Go denies hand in Discaya joint venture with dad’s firm
The Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Public Works and Highways are looking into the alleged links between contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya and CLTG Builders, a company owned by Senator Bong Go’s father.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said it appears the Discayas are protecting Go following the couple’s decision to no longer cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
“I think they’ve been protecting Bong Go, the joint venture they had with CLTG with the family of Bong Go. That’s one of the people they’ve been protecting, to be blunt about it,” the Ombudsman said.
He said it was during the term of Go as then Special Adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte that Discaya-owned companies grew big with their joint ventures with CLTG.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed his office is investigating the connection between the Discayas and CLTG.
“We are looking at connections between the Discayas and CLTG Corporation. That is also our target—from 2016 to 2025. We will spare not spare anyone here,” Dizon said.
In a press conference, Go denied being involved in his father’s business.
“File a case against the Discayas — I don’t care. They should not protect anyone on my behalf because I am not involved in that,” the senator said.
He urged the Discayas to divulge what they know of the botched or substandard flood control projects even as he lamented that he cannot choose his relatives.
“I am one with the Filipino people in this crusade against corruption,” Go said, noting he is ready to face the ICI.
“If only one could choose relatives, I would replace my relatives. I have nothing to do with these (projects),” the senator added.
During a hearing of the Senate Blue RIbbon panel in last month, Sarah Discaya said her family’s St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corporation and CLTG Builders entered into a joint venture agreement for projects in Davao region in 2017.
For his part, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV questioned Go’s defense that he played no role in his family’s dealings.
“Your father and sibling could not have won a P7-billion project if it were not for the influence of you and Duterte. Don’t try to fool us,” Trillanes said.
Remulla said the Discayas refused to provide details of their partnership with CLTG Builders.
“The question was very simple — we asked them about their joint venture with CLTG Builders in Davao. They do not want to tell us anything. They just said nothing, they do not know anything, and that they just let their license be borrowed by another firm,” he said.
“[Their statements are] selective, when they should be disclosing everything. They thrived during the previous administration. Their business grew so they were able to talk to a lot of people and made a lot of dealings during that time,” the Ombudsman added.
Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman will pursue cases against the Discayas.
“The Discayas will be charged in accordance with the investigations,” Remulla said.
“Cooperation is good because it can lead to restitution. It will make things easier for the country. But if they want to give the country a hard time, so be it. The design of giving immunity to people is not for a blanket immunity to be given to the people who are involved or who may be involved in hundreds of cases.”
“Blanket immunity is something that you do not want to give, especially if the people are not disclosing everything. There has to be full disclosure first,” he added.
Dizon backed Remulla’s position: “They have to cooperate. Kung hindi sila makikipag-cooperate, pasensyahan tayo. It’s that simple.”
“They were given the chance by the ICI to cooperate. But now that they do not want to cooperate, and with all the cases against them, there is no possibility for them to become state witnesses,” Dizon added.
According to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, the Discayas are in no position to demand concessions to become state witnesses,
“I don’t think they’re in a position to demand anything at this time. They’re applying for supposedly witness protection coverage. And we have our procedures to determine whether or not they will be qualified,” Fadullon said in an interview with reporters.
“It is not for anybody to dictate to us how we will go about doing the evaluation. It is not for anybody to impose any conditions. In fact, we will do the evaluation and determine whether or not they will be qualified to be admitted into the program,” he added.
Among the requirements to qualify for the Witness Protection Program are minimal participation by a would-be witness in criminal offenses where they are to testify, their willingness to fully cooperate in providing information, and returning any public funds received.
Fadullon said a state witness must be able to provide a detailed account that would complete the prosecution of a case.
“You cannot just simply run around mentioning people’s names without being able to give supporting documents or evidence to show that it did really happen,” he said.
Fadullon, however, said the Discayas have not yet formally informed the Department of Justice they are no longer interested in cooperating with the government, as earlier reported by the ICI.
“We were surprised, but as far as the department is concerned, there are no indications yet that they will discontinue talks with the DOJ,” he said.
