The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) denied inviting Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go for questioning to shed light on the issue of flood control, contrary to the earlier statement made by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The ICI through executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said the ICI has not yet invited Go to appear in any of its hearings.
“The commission has not yet sent an invitation for Senator Bong Go to become a resource person. No plans yet, but we will let you know once the commission decides to invite Senator Bong Go,” Hosaka said.
Trillanes earlier said he had asked the ICI to summon Go and investigate him along with his father and brother.
“I have information that Bong Go was already invited to appear before the ICI pero ayaw nyang pumunta, unless kasama nya sina Imee at Bato para may tiga-abogado sa kanya. Let’s keep the pressure on – dapat imbitahan si Bong Go kasama ang tatay at kapatid niya,” said Trillanes.
The former senator provided the commission a copy of his plunder complaint against Go with the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the P6.9-billion worth of government infrastructure projects awarded to CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders & Supply, owned by the father and brother of Go, respectively, during periods when Go held positions of influence as aide to former President (Rodrigo) Duterte and later as senator.
“Of this amount, over $816 million was secured through joint ventures with St. Gerrard Construction, owned by the Discaya family, who are implicated in the ongoing flood-control controversy,” he noted.
Trillanes said those contracts were obtained through alleged abuse of official position and influence, resulting in unjust enrichment, which is prohibited under the Plunder Law and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“In view of the gravity of these offenses, I respectfully request that the ICI summon Senator Go, Deciderio Lim Go, Alfredo Go, and other concerned DPWH officials to explain these transactions and conduct random inspections of the reported project sites in Davao to verify their actual implementation,” the former senator said in his letter sent to ICI Chairman Andres Reyes. Jr.
Senator Go denied such accusations and described Trillanes’ move as rehashed allegations to tarnish his reputation and distract the public from those truly responsible for corruption.
“You are barking at the wrong tree. If you’re really serious, why don’t you go after the real corrupt individuals? Why don’t you file cases against your financiers, the contractors? You know who they are,” Go earlier said in a public rebuke to Trillanes.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include the response of the ICI, which denied former Senator Antonio Trillanes’ statement. Originally posted with the headline “Bong Go won’t show up at ICI – Trillanes.”
