MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go are facing a second plunder complaint, this time filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV before the Department of Justice.
The complaint relates to the P16-billion Philippine Navy Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP) from 2016. Reelectionist Go has dismissed the allegations as old and politically motivated.
In addition to plunder, Duterte and Go are accused of graft, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.
Trillanes, who is running for mayor of Caloocan City, also named several others in his complaint:
- Former defense undersecretary Raymundo Elefante
- Former budget undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao
- Retired Navy Admiral Robert Empedrad
- Former Department of National Defense acquisition chief Leodegario Dela Paz
- FAP legal officer Marlon Dayao
Hyundai Heavy Industries officers Kisun Chung, Ki Young Sung, Joung Woo Byun, and Sandra Han were also named.
Trillanes’ complaint alleges that the procurement of the Combat Management System (CMS) for the frigates, with Hyundai being given the “sole right to choose the maker,” went against the recommendations of the FAP Project Management Team and the Philippine Navy. He claims this would not have occurred without intervention from Duterte and Go, who was the President’s special assistant at the time.
Trillanes stated that Duterte has “essentially publicly admitted that he and his long-time errand boy, Respondent Bong Go, directly intervene[d] and/or interfered in the implementation of the FAP” to benefit Hyundai Heavy Industries.
He contends that this intervention led to the Department of National Defense selecting a CMS from South Korean defense firm Hanhwa, against the objections of the Navy, causing significant harm to the Navy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Government, and the Country.
The complaint alleges that the respondents “amassed, accumulated, or acquired ill-gotten wealth” of at least P50 million from the CMS deal. Trillanes points to a P700 million price difference in the CMS purchase for the BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna from the original P16 billion budget as evidence of plunder.
“Bagman si Christopher Lao ni Bong Go, at si Bong Go naman bagman ni Duterte kaya magkaka-dugtong ang bituka niyan,” Trillanes claimed. (Christopher Lao was bagman to Bong Go while Bong Go was bagman for Duterte, so they are really connected.)
Trillanes is requesting the DOJ to conduct a preliminary investigation and eventually bring the charges to court. He mentioned that he is also investigating other alleged anomalies and is filing cases now because the current environment is more conducive to them.
“[S]iguradong iwa-whitewash nila yun, i-railroad nila kung na-file man ‘yan noong panahon ni Duterte,” Trillanes said. (This would have been whitewashed or buried if it was filed while Duterte was president.)
In response, Go stated that there is nothing new in Trillanes’ accusations, criticizing them as “rehashed” and “black propaganda” for the upcoming elections.
He highlighted that a Senate investigation into the frigates issue found no anomalies and that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had cleared him of alleged intervention in 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. Nevertheless, I welcome these moves to finally put an end to these lies,” Go said.