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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Go slams 'traditional' Trillanes over 'rehashed' Philippine Navy frigate issue

Go slams 'traditional' Trillanes over 'rehashed' Philippine Navy frigate issue

Published Aug 7, 2024 09:03 am

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday, August 7 dismissed former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s latest accusation against him and former president Rodrigo Duterte as another “rehashed” black propaganda. 

 

Go stated this after Trillanes filed a second plunder complaint against them and other personalities involved in the alleged anomalous Philippine Navy (PN) Frigate Acquisition project. 

 

“Wala nang bago, another rehashed accusation na paulit-ulit na lang ibinabato (It’s nothing new, it’s just another rehased accusation that he repeatedly accuses us of),” Go said in a statement.

 

“Halatang nais lang kaming pinturahan ng itim para siya ay pumuti! (It’s obvious he just wants to paint us black for him to stand out as pure)! The Traditional Trillanes — another black propaganda! Palibhasa panahon na naman kasi ng eleksyon kaya kailangan na naman niyang magpasikat at kumita (Because elections are near that’s why he needs to stand out again and make money),” the senator added.

 

Go said he could not understand why Trillanes would resort to reviving an issue that has already been settled when he was still a senator.

 

“Pero mabuti na rin ito upang malaman ng lahat ang katotohanan na wala ka naman talagang ibang ginagawa kundi mag-recycle ng isyu na ikaw rin ang nag-imbento upang linlangin ang taumbayan (But I find it beneficial since this would help people to learn the truth that you do nothing but recycle issues that you yourself invented to fool the people),” he pointed out. 

 

On Wednesday morning, Trillanes filed plunder raps against Go and Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the alleged anomalous frigate deal.

 

Other respondents in the plunder case are former defense undersecretary Raymundo Elefante, former budget undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, former Navy chief Admiral Robert Empedrad, and seven private individuals.

 

The retired Philippine naval officer said the respondents violated Section 2 of The Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder and The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 

Trillanes’ complaint stemmed from the P16-billion frigate project, which involved the procurement of two state-of-the-art warships for the Philippine Navy.

 

The project started during the administration of the late former President Benigno Aquino III and continued under Duterte’s leadership.

 

Go pointed out that the Senate, through the committee on national defense then chaired by senator Gregorio Honasan, which investigated the alleged anomaly, found nothing wrong with the deal. 

 

The senator also said then Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had cleared him of any involvement on the issue. Even Navy Flag-officer-in-command, Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado had also cleared him of any involvement. 

 

Go also said Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, the chairperson of the Frigate Project Management Team, himself said that there was “no anomaly, no problem, no intervention” that marred the deal. 

 

“This issue has once again been rehashed and recycled for obvious politicking purposes. This is a clear case of destructive politics and sure sign of desperation out to malign me and the former President,” Go said.

 

“Nevertheless, I welcome these moves to finally put an end to these lies,” he stressed. 

Related Tags

Bong Go plunder antonio trillanes iv Philippine Navy
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