P6.6-B plunder case vs ex-Pres Duterte, Sen Bong Go, 2 others now with Ombudsman; DOJ seeks return for 'added evidence'

While the P6.6 billion plunder complaint against former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has been turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said he is coordinating with the OMB for the return of the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Remulla exlained that former senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV, the complainant, has conveyed the submission of added evidence in the case. 

“Ang nangyari kasi d’yan the prosecutor general did not coordinate with my office (What happened was the prosecutor general did not coordinate with my office),” Remulla recounted.

“He just decided to send it the Office of the Ombudsman immediately without clearing with my office,” he added.

With the intention of Trillanes to submit additional evidence, "we have to do some back chanelling with the Office of the Ombudsman, coordination para ibalik sa amin ang complaint para namin mapag-aralan bago ‘yan ibalik ng prosecutor general (so that the complaint will be brought back to the DOJ to be studied before it is returned by the prosecutor general),” he said.

The secretary reminded he issued Department Circular (DC) No. 20 which requires prosecutors to study a case before forwarding it to another office.

Though the charter of the NPS gives it leeway and independence, Remulla reminded that he is still the head of the DOJ.

In his complaint, Trillanes accused Duterte, Go, the senator’s faher Deciderio Lim Go and half-brother Alfredo Armero Go of having violated Republic Act (RA) No. 7080, the Anti-Plunder Act; and RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Aside from graft and plunder, Trillanes also asked the DOJ to file criminal charges against the four respondents for violations of RA 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officers and Employees; culpable violation of the Constitution, particularly Article VI, Section 14 and Article VII, Section 13; and violations of other laws as may be warranted by the evidence.

The complaint stated: “In sum, Respondents Duterte and Respondent Go-both public officers of the Republic of the Philippines at the time of the commission of the offense, as ‘main plunderers’ in connivance with Respondent Go’s father, Respondents Deciderio Go, and his half-brother, Respondent Alfredo Go, together were able to amass at least P6.6 billion pesos worth of contracts with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) through a series of dubious transactions with unqualified Davao-based construction companies by taking undue advantage of their official positions, authority, relationship, connection or influence to successfully secure billions of pesos worth of contracts or projects which unjustly enriched themselves at the expense, to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines."