DOJ to re-evaluate plunder raps filed by Trillanes vs. FPPRD, Go

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

FILE: PLUNDER CHARGES. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV files a plunder complaint against former president Rodrigo Duterte and his former presidential aide, now Senator Bong Go, before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila on Friday (July 5, 2024). (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The plunder complaint filed earlier this month by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV against former president Rodrigo Duterte may find its way back to the Department of Justice (DOJ) from the Office of the Ombudsman for further evaluation, Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said Thursday.

“(W)e have to do some back channeling with the Office of the Ombudsman, coordination para ibalik sa amin ang complaint para namin mapag-aralan bago ‘yan ibalik ng prosecutor general (so it will be returned to us and we can evaluate it before the prosecutor general returns it). Kasi dapat ‘yan coordinated (That has to be coordinated),” Remulla told reporters.

“Ang nangyari ipinasa ‘yan ng prosecutor general na walang nakaalam sa opisina ng DOJ. So ngayon we are looking at it kasi merong evidence na pina-file si Sen. Trillanes na hindi na-include sa body ng complaint (What happened was it was submitted by the prosecutor general without the Office of the DOJ knowing. Now, we are looking at it because Trillanes is filing evidence not included in the body of the complaint),” Remulla explained, adding that under current rules, a complaint has to first go through the DOJ before being endorsed to another office.

Last July 5, Trillanes filed plunder complaints against Duterte and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go before the DOJ in connection with the alleged anomalous award of 184 government contracts worth more than PHP6 billion.

In a 30-page complaint, Trillanes alleged that Duterte and Go facilitated corrupt practices in the awarding of contracts to companies owned by Go’s father and brother from 2007 to 2018, CLTG Builders.

Besides violating Republic Act (RA) No. 7080 (The Anti-Plunder Act), Duterte and Go were also accused of allegedly violating RA 3019 (The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), and RA 6713 (The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).