Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday, July 5 shrugged off the plunder and graft complaint filed against him and former president Rodrigo Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
While he has yet to see a copy of the verified complaint, Go said he believes Trillanes’ complaint stemmed from the same accusations that he hurled against him before, way back in 2018, and had categorically denied since then.
“Nevertheless, I welcome these moves to finally put an end to these often recycled issues against us,” Go said in a statement.
“Mabuti nang silipin sa mga akusasyong ito, may irregularity ba talaga? May naging transaksyon ba na disadvantageous sa government? May nanakaw ba? At may linkages ba sa akin na nagsasabing nakinabang ako sa anumang transaksyong ito (It’s best to scrutinize this accusations, was there really an irregularity? Was the transaction disadvantageous to government? Were any funds stolen? And where there any linkages that said I benefited from such transactions)?” he pointed out.
“COA (the Commission on Audit) can find out. And, if there is, it is for COA to file the necessary charges,” the senator reiterated.
Trillanes earlier filed plunder charges against Duterte and Go before the DOJ alleging that they “facilitated corrupt practices” when they awarded more than a hundred government contracts to companies owned by Go’s father and brother worth at least P6.6-billion.
“All the elements of plunder are clearly present in this case. Mr. Bong Go, in conspiracy with Mr. Duterte, used his position, authority and influence to corner billions worth of government projects in favor of his father and brother, thus unduly enriching himself and the members of his immediate family. The evidence presented in the complaint is compelling and warrants a plunder charge,” Trillanes said in the complaint.
The former senator also accused Duterte and Go of violating Republic Act No. 3019 or The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
But Go said that even before he was born, his family already has a business.
“What I assure, I did not benefit and my family did not benefit from my being a government person. Even if you ask, my relatives can't even approach me—even my own father and half-brother—to negotiate any project or contract with the government,” he said in Filipino.
“For a simple provincial like us and former President Duterte, we keep our name. Our conscience is clear because from then until now, we have delicadeza,” he reiterated.