Former Philippines senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed a criminal complaint of graft and plunder against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday. Duterte is embroiled again in another legal battle since leaving office. This follows an earlier investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged crimes against humanity linked to the extensive killings during his anti-drug campaign.
Friday’s lawsuit stems from accusations that construction contracts in Davao were improperly awarded to companies owned by the father and a sibling of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who served as Duterte’s closest aide and former special assistant during his presidency.
The complaint is based on findings from a 2018 report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ). The report revealed that since 2007, when Duterte was mayor of Davao City, to his tenure as President of the Philippines in 2017, CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders and Supply, owned by the father and sibling of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, consistently secured the largest and most lucrative construction projects in the Davao region, valued at a staggering P6.6 billion (USD $144 million).
The complaint claims that by consistently allocating numerous public infrastructure projects, valued at billions of pesos, to sole proprietorships clearly owned by Go’s immediate family members, the Duterte administration unfairly favored Go’s relatives and enriched themselves and profited at the cost of the Filipino people and the Philippines.
Senator Go said he had not seen the complaint but brushed off any allegations against him and Duterte calling the Friday’s accusations “often-recycled issues.” His response in Tagalog insisted to reporters that neither he nor his family had gained from his government position. “Ask anyone,” he declared, emphasizing that his relatives, including his father and half-brother, have never approached him for help securing government projects or contracts. Duterte has not responded.
Government prosecutors are set to launch an independent investigation to determine whether to formally charge Duterte and other accused parties. This process could span months or even years before a decision is reached.
Plunder is a crime in the Philippines when government officials, often with the help of family or associates, illicitly accumulate wealth through corrupt practices. A conviction for plunder can result in a life sentence, and the government is authorized to seize any assets or properties gained unlawfully after a final conviction.
