Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes Files Charges vs. Former Pres. Duterte, Sen. Bong Go
ANTONIO TRILLANES – The former Senator filed charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bong Go before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya withdrew their cooperation with the ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure). According to ICI executive director Keith Hosaka, the contractors withdrew their cooperation amid a lack of recommendation to become a state witness.
The Discayas stopped cooperating with the commission after ICI member Rogelio Singson claimed that none has yet to qualify to become a state witness. After the contractors’ withdrawal from cooperating on the flood control probe, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the Discayas are possibly protecting Sen. Bong Go.
Sen. Bong Go quickly reacted to the Ombudsman’s speculations linking him to the Discayas. He stressed that he is one with the Filipinos in seeking for accountability amid the corruption issue in the country. According to him, he does not care if charges will be filed against the contractors.
Go also reiterated his previous claim that he does not know about the Discayas. His name was dragged into the issue after the contractors admitted during a previous Senate hearing that they had a joint venture with the CLTG Builders, the construction company owned by the father of the Senator.
According to Sen. Bong Go, he is willing to be the complainant in a case even if it would be his family member who is the accused in case his family member did something wrong. He stressed that he is true to his mandate and his obligations to the people who voted and supported him.
Recently, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes arrived at the Office of the Ombudsman. Based on a report on GMA News, he filed charges against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bong Go. He is accusing them of allegedly committing plunder and graft over the infrastructure projects funded by the government.
Aside from Duterte and Go, the other respondents in the complaints filed by Trillanes are Go’s father, Deciderio Lim Go, and his brother, Alfredo Armero Go. The former Senator claimed that the CLTG Builders and Go’s father and brother supposed secured billions of contracts from the government allegedly since 2008 when Duterte was still mayor of Davao City.
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes also cited in his complaint the recent joint venture of the CLTG Builders with the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction company. Based on the report, he claimed that the CLTG and the Alfrego Builders allegedly got P6.95 billion worth of government contracts from 2008 up to the present.
“Ang main plunderer rito ay si Bong Go kasi siya ang central figure dun sa tatay at kapatid, tapos ‘yung kanyang relationship with Duterte enabled this. Ang pumipirma, ang naga-appprove ay itong si Duterte pero nasa likod niya itong si Bong Go,” the former Senator said.
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes claimed that the projects allegedly included flood control deals and road widening contracts. Based on the report, he stressed that even if the projects were completed, they should have not been granted to the father and brother of the Senator. He claimed that the law allegedly prohibits the awarding of government contracts to individuals who are related to public officials “up to 4th degree of consanguinity and affinity”.
“Alam naman natin na magkadugtong ang bituka ni Bong Go at Duterte kaya hindi niya pwedeng ipagkaila na hindi naimpluwensyahan ito. Nung senador na si Bong Go, ganun din, kahit na senador siya, siya pa rin ang nag-a-act as the alter ego of Duterte. Talagang siya pa rin ‘yung special assistant kaya ito ay maliwanag na violation sa ating batas kaya natin siya kinasuhan,” Trillanes said.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the PH Embassy officials allegedly conducted a “sham welfare check” on former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and submitted a report to Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes reacted to the claim of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.