CONNIVANCE? | Trillanes hits Duterte, long-time aide with P6.6 billion plunder allegation

July 5, 2021 , 03:28 PM

By Beatrice Puente, News5 Digital

(July 5, 2021) – Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday accused President Rodrigo Duterte and his long-time aide of committing plunder concerning several infrastructure projects amounting to P6.6 billion.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte, revealed that two companies owned by Sen. Bong Go’s relatives have been awarded big-ticket road projects in the Davao Region, where Duterte’s hometown is located.

“Specifically, P1.5 billion noong mayor pa lang si Duterte sa Davao City, habang P5.1 billion worth of projects naman ang nakuha ng pamilya ni Bong Go noong unang dalawang taon pa lang ng pagka-presidente ni Duterte,” said Trillanes in a video.

Citing reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Trillanes alleged that the CLTG Builders have obtained 125 projects from March to May 2018, amounting to P4.89 billion. Go’s father, Deciderio Lim, owns the construction firm.

Alfrego Builders, owned by Go’s half-brother, bagged 59 projects from 2007 to 2018 worth P1.74 billion. In 2018, the company got 23 concreting and road-widening projects, earning a total of P1.3 billion. All projects were implemented in the Davao Region and Davao City.

Trillanes also pointed out that the two companies only have a B-license, which should have barred them from obtaining large infrastructure projects with the government. But the firms circumvented the rule by entering a joint-venture agreement with Triple-A companies, he added.

“Maliwanag na ginamit ni Bong Go ang kanyang posisyon, in connivance with and obvious consent of Duterte as mayor and, later on, as president para makinabang ang kanyang pamilya. Kaya naman pala sinabi ni Duterte sa isang press conference na bilyonaryo si Bong Go kasi bilyun-bilyon na pala ang ninakaw nila sa kaban ng bayan,” said Trillanes.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) first reported about the issue in 2018. Go called promised to resign from his post as Duterte’s assistant if the “unfair” claims were proven to be true. Go was elected as a senator the following year.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told Trillanes to just file a case if he has enough evidence to substantiate his allegations. He said the investigations can proceed even if Duterte continues to have presidential immunity.

Roque, a former law professor, also shielded Go from criticisms, saying his family has long been engaged in infrastructure projects even before he assumed power in the government.

“Sa panahon ng pulitika, asahan natin ang mga ganitong paratang, pero ‘wag nating kakalimutan, ‘yung mga bumabato ngayon, bumato na ‘yan dati. Walang napatunyan noon, walang mapapatunayan ngayon at bukas,” said Roque.

Go, for his part, said he never benefited from any of these transactions, which he said were legitimate. He accused the former lawmaker of rehashing his claims in time for the election season.

“Wala naman po akong kinalaman diyan. Kahit ilang taon na pong lumipas iyan, wala naman po akong kinalaman diyan at wala po akong pakinabang diyan. Ni piso po wala po akong pakialam diyan,” Go said in a statement.

“Trillanes, huwag ka nang magpaliguy-ligoy pa. Kung tingin mong may korapsyon na nangyari, kasuhan mo para mapanagot. May proseso at hukuman na makapagpapatunay ng mga iyan. Huwag mo na daanin sa istilo mong bulok.”

Trillanes vowed that he will not allow Duterte and Go evade accountability.

“Ito ang pangako ko: Basta ‘pag nawala na sila sa puwesto, ifa-file namin ang mga kasong plunder kina Duterte at Bong Go base rito sa government documents na ito.”

(PM)

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