Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go listens as President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on May 2, 2022. Alfred Frias, Presidential Photo/File

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bong Go are facing a second plunder complaint before the Department of Justice filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

The second plunder complaint stemmed from the P16-billion Philippine Navy Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP) in 2016, with reelectionist Go calling the allegations old and rehashed "for obvious politicking purposes."

Aside from plunder, Duterte and Go are also accused of graft, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.

Trillanes, who is planning to run for mayor of Caloocan City, also named the following 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

Also named in the complaint are Hyundai Heavy Industries officers Kisun Chung, Ki Young Sung, Joung Woo Byun, and Sandra Han.

READ: Trillanes to file new complaint vs Duterte, Go over frigate deal

TRILLANES ALLEGES INTERVENTION IN CHOOSING COMBAT SYSTEM

Trillanes said in his complaint that the procurement of the Combat Management System (CMS) for the two frigates with Hyundai being given the “sole right to choose the maker” was contrary to the position of the FAP Project Management Team and the Philippine Navy, and would not have happened without intervention from Duterte and Go, who was the President's special assistant at the time.

Trillanes claimed that Duterte has “essentially publicly admitted that he and his long-time errand boy, Respondent Bong Go, directly intervene and/or interfered in the implementation of the FAP" at the behest of Hyundai Heavy Industries.

He said that that intervention led to the DND picking a CMS built by South Korean defense firm Hanhwa "over the persistent and principled objections" of the Navy, and "to the grave and utter prejudice of the Philippine Navy, the AFP, the Government and the Country."

'ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH'

Trillanes alleged the respondents "amassed, accumulated or acquired ill-gotten wealth" of at least P50 million — the threshold for plunder — from the CMS deal 

He said that the price difference of P700 million for the purchase of the CMSs for the BRP Jose Rizal and its sister ship BRP Antonio Luna from the original budget contract of P16 billion also established plunder.

READ: Bong Go: I'll resign if frigate deal 'meddling' is proven

“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 asking the DOJ to hold a preliminary investigation into his complaint and eventually bring the charges to court.

He said that he is also looking into other alleged anomalies, adding that he is filing cases now because the 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 it if this was filed while Duterte was president)

GO SAYS CASES 'OBVIOUS POLITICKING'

In a statement, Go said there was nothing new in Trillanes' accusations, slamming them as "rehashed" and "black propaganda" for the upcoming elections.

He said that a Senate investigation into the frigates issue found no anomalies and that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had cleared him of accusations 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.

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