MANILA – Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV sought a Senate investigation into government contracts awarded to relatives of state officials and employees – particularly Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
In Resolution 889 filed Wednesday, Trillanes asked the committee on civil service, government reorganization and professional regulation to look into possible conflicts of interest in such contracts.
The committee, which Trillanes heads, will not automatically get the resolution. The Senate leadership will decide where it will be referred to.
Trillanes cited a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism stating that the Davao Region was given the most public works funds by the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2017, with CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders and Supplies as the top contractors.
The two companies were owned by Go’s father and stepbrother, the PCIJ report stated.
CLTG Builders won a total of P1.85 billion worth of infrastructure projects for Davao Region from 2007 to 2017, and another P2.7 billion in joint ventures with four contractors including Alfrego in 2017 alone, Trillanes said, citing the PCIJ report.
CLTG Builders caught the attention of the PCIJ’s research because it failed to complete all of its joint venture projects within the original deadline, he said. It also has a B license, which means it could not carry out a big-ticket project without a partner, said Trillanes.
“Coincidentally, CLTG is also the initials of Go, whose full name is Christopher Lawrence Tesoro Go,” the senator said.
“There is an urgent need to look into this matter as conflict of interest,” said Trillanes. “Undue influence exerted by government officials and employees in the conduct of government transactions threatens the quality of service the public is receiving.”
Go has expressed willingness to attend the investigation.
“I welcome any and all investigation or senate inquiry that Trillanes will call in relation to my family’s alleged involvement in ‘billions of pesos’ worth of projects,” said Go. “Kahit bukas pwede akong sumalang sa Senado para naman mabisita ko siya kung saan siya nagtatago.”
“If my involvement will be proven and substantiated by facts and documents, I will immediately tender my resignation. But if the allegations are fake and concocted, then my accuser, Senator Trillanes, should resign,” he added. (GMA News)
