De Lima wants probe on suspicious infrastructure projects allegedly awarded to Go's kin

Detained Senator Leila de Lima called on Congress to probe the government contracts which were awarded to the family of Senator Bong Go, President Rodrigo Duterte's long-time aide, adding that there could be  "conflict of interest" in the projects.

In a dispatch on Tuesday, de Lima said  she filed Senate Resolution No. 809 which asked lawmakers to investigate the suspicious contracts owned by  Go’s family members, namely, CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders, owned by Go’s father Desiderio Go and half-brother Alfredo Amero Go, respectively.

The resolution sought probe on whether the suspicious contracts would violate laws such as Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Plunder Law.

“It is imperative to verify whether acts that amount to taking undue advantage of one’s official position, authority, relationships, connections, and influence to the damage and prejudice of the people, have been committed in the Desiderio Go and Alfredo Go contracts with government,” she said.

“Close family relations were involved in possibly accessing influence from the highest office of the land, further considering that both contractors’ son and brother, respectively, is known to be the closest political associate of the Chief Executive who has direct control and supervision over the DPWH as implementor of the contracted projects,” the senator added.

Further, De Lima pointed out the PCIJ report in 2018 which cited top contractors for government infrastructure projects in Davao is CLTG Builders. 

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV also bared that CLTG Builders was allegedly awarded 125 road-widening projects from March to May 2018, which is worth  P4.89 billion, De Lima also said. 

Also, De Lima said there should be an investigation on issues from the simulated joint ventures (JV), adding that there is presently no procedure in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as to the monitoring of the actual participation of parties in a JV.

For his part, Senator Bong Go welcomed any investigation on corruption in the government, adding that he respects his fellow senators if they want to approve the resolution involving the alleged suspicious contracts.

"Very much welcome ang anumang imbestigasyon laban sa korapsyon o katiwalian. Basta ang importante ay lumabas ang katotohanan. Nirerespeto ko naman ang karapatan ng mga kapwa kong Senador pagdating sa ganyan. Nasa sa kanila yan kung gusto nila itong patulan pa," he said.

(I welcome any investigation on corruption. The important thing is for truth to come out. I will respect my fellow senators if they want to approve the resolution.)

The allegations on contracts against his family were "baseless and bloated," Go also said.

"Nakakasawa na ang luma, panis, bloated, at baseless accusations na ‘yan. Klaro naman na wala akong kinalaman, wala akong inimpluwensyahan, at wala akong pakialam sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno na tinutukoy nila," he added.

(It is already old news, bloated and baseless. It is clear that I'm not involved and I don't have influence on the said government projects.)—LDF, GMA News