Trillanes files plunder complaint vs. ex-president Duterte, Sen. Bong Go

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday filed a plunder complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in relation to government projects during the previous administration. 

“Ito ay tungkol sa mga government projects totalling P6.6 billion na inaward nila doon sa tatay at kapatid ni Bong Go. Ito po ay maliwanag na plunder at lahat ng elemento ng plunder charge ay nandirito sa kaso na ito,” Trillanes said in an ambush interview.

(This is about government projects totalling P6.6 billion that they awarded to the father and brother of Bong Go. This is clearly plunder and all elements of a plunder charge are present in this case.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from Duterte's camp but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

Senator Go, meanwhile, has issued a statement denying Trillanes' accusations.

"I have yet to see the verified complaint. But, since this is essentially the same accusation they hurled against me before, I categorically deny the allegations against me and former President Rodrigo Duterte," said Go.

Trillanes said he filed the 30-page complaint only now as he claimed that the judiciary was controlled by Duterte during his time as President, citing the incarceration of former Senator Leila de Lima who was recently acquitted of all drug charges.

When asked why he filed the complaint with the DOJ and not the Office of the Ombudsman, the anti-graft body which pursues corruption cases against public officials, Trillanes said he believes that the DOJ has more access to other agencies to validate the information they submitted. 

“Unang-una dahil may concurrent jurisdiction tapos naniniwala tayo na mas may access yung DOJ sa iba’t ibang ahensya to validate ‘yung mga dokumento na finile namin sa DPWH, sa DTI, at sa COA,” Trillanes said.

(First because there is concurrent jurisdiction and we believe that the DOJ has more access to other agencies to validate the documents that we filed in the DPWH, DTI, and COA.)

Complaint

In the complaint, Trillanes claimed that numerous government projects were awarded to CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders & Supply, which are allegedly owned by Go’s father and half-brother, from 2007 to 2018. 

Trillanes said that CLTG Builders was only allowed to implement a single largest project (SPL) from P10 million to P50 million, while the allowable range of contract cost (ARCC) should not exceed P100 million.

However, he said the largest contracts awarded to CLTG amounted to P245.7 million, P208.8 million, P187.9 million, and P180.5 million, and P177 million. 

Trillanes also stressed that “an overwhelming number of substantial and sizable projects” were awarded to CLTG and Alfrego when Go held a cabinet post under the Duterte administration.

“Respondents Duterte and Bong Go were the ‘hub’ – the main plunderers for whose benefit the amassment, accumulation and acquisition was made; with Respondents Deciderio Go and Alfredo Go, Respondent’s father and half-brother, respectively, hence, both members of his family, as the ‘spokes’ – his co-conspirators,” Trillanes said.

In his latest statement, Go maintained that his family's businesses are all legitimate.   

"For the record, wala pa ako sa mundong ito ay meron nang negosyo ang pamilya ko. Ang sinisigurado ko, hindi ako nakinabang at hindi nakinabang ang pamilya ko sa pagiging taong gobyerno ko," said Go. 

(For the record, my family already has a business even before I was born. I assure everybody, I did not benefit and my family did not benefit from me being a government person.)

Go's reply in 2021

Trillanes made the same accusations back in 2021 on his YouTube page during the Duterte administration.

Then presidential spokesperson Harry Roque described the accusation as a "rehash of an old one that went nowhere."

Go also dismissed the allegations as rehashed lies, saying he had answered the allegations, and recalled challenging Trillanes in September 2018 to investigate and file cases.

“Ang tanong ay nakinabang ba ako? Nakialam ba ako? Nag impluwensya ba ako? Wala! Buti pa ang ibang tao, nakakahingi ng tulong sa akin. Pero ang pamilya ko hindi nakakalapit sa akin 'yan, lalo na ang half-brother ko na magkaiba naman ang aming nanay,” Go said in a statement in 2021.

(The question is, did I benefit from those projects? Did I interfere? Did I use my influence? No! Other people were able to ask for my help. My family never approached me, especially my half-brother since we have different mothers.)

Salvador Panelo, who served as presidential spokesperson during the Duterte administration, also defended the former chief executive and Go. 

“The former President fired government officials tainted with corruption including members of his Cabinet,” he said in a statement. 

“The two have never used their positions and influence to help friends, relatives, and allies to get government contracts. They abhor such practice and anathema to their character,” Panelo added. —with Vince Angelo Ferreras/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News