FILE PHOTO: Sen. Bong Go. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go brushed off corruption allegations thrown against him and former President Rodrigo Duterte as “often-recycled issues.”
“I have yet to see the verified complaint. But, since this is essentially the same accusation they hurled against me before, I categorically deny the allegations against me and Duterte,” he said in a statement Friday.
“Nevertheless, I welcome these moves to finally put an end to these often-recycled issues against us,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed a plunder case against Go and Duterte, asserting that the two allies facilitated corrupt practices – specifically the awarding of more than a hundred government contracts worth at least P6.6 billion to companies owned by the senator’s father and brother.
READ: Trillanes files plunder, graft raps vs ex-President Duterte, Bong Go
“For the record, wala pa ako sa mundong ito ay meron nang negosyo ang pamilya ko. Ang sinisigurado ko, hindi ako nakinabang at hindi nakinabang ang pamilya ko sa pagiging taong gobyerno ko. Kahit ipagtanong pa ninyo, ni hindi makalapit ang mga kamag-anak ko sa akin – kahit ang sarili kong tatay at half-brother – para ilakad ang anumang proyekto o kontrata sa gobyerno,” Go insisted.
(For the record, my family already has a business for a very long time. What I assure you, I did not benefit and my family did not benefit from my being a government person. Even if you ask, not even my relatives can come near me – even my own father and half-brother – to appeal for the fast tracking of any project or contract with the government.)
READ: Bong Go: Duterte and I have no ties with those nailed in Pharmally mess
Go likewise said he never interfered with nor influenced any government transaction, contract or bidding. He dismissed Trillanes’ claims as a mere trick, especially now that the 2025 election is near.
Later, however, Go said it would be better to look at the allegations being hurled against him and Duterte to determine if there were indeed illicit activities that involve them.
And if the Commission on Audit (COA) finds out that such allegations are true and eventually proven, Go said the state auditor may file necessary charges against them.