No plan yet to invite Go, Trillanes’ complaint vs lawmaker not priority - ICI

Metro Manila, Philippines - There is no plan yet to invite Sen. Bong Go – whose family is under investigation for its supposed ties with a contractor-couple at the middle of the flood control controversy – to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), an official said.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 28, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka denied the claim of former Sen. Sonny Trillanes who said Go declined the commission’s invitation to appear before the commission probing the flood control mess.

Trillanes later retracted his statement, claiming that Go’s camp “was sent feelers” instead of an official invitation.

“Wala pang napapadala na imbitasyon ang komisyon to Sen. Bong Go to become a resource person…no plans yet,” Hosaka said.

[Translation: There is no invitation yet for Sen. Bong Go to become a resource person…no plans yet]

Asked about Trillanes’ complaint against Go, which was sent to the ICI office, Hosaka said it will not be the investigators’ priority for now.

On Oct. 21, the former lawmaker filed plunder and graft complaints against Go and former President Rodrigo Duterte over ₱7 billion in government deals bagged by firms of the lawmaker’s kin. Trillanes accused the two of using their positions to award contracts to CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders, companies owned by Go’s father and brother, respectively.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon earlier said his office and the Ombudsman will look into the connection of CLTG Builders and contractor-couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya, whose companies have been tagged in non-existent and substandard flood control projects.

Sarah also admitted in a Senate inquiry that their firms participated in questionable bidding practices, with their companies competing on the same contracts.

Hosaka said the commission doesn’t want to be redundant in the course of its investigation.

“The fact that the complaint has been filed with the Ombudsman, we don't want to be redundant in the sense that medyo hindi pa nga kumpleto ‘yung aming staffing pattern [our staffing patterns are still incomplete], so we’d rather concentrate our efforts to new case buildups, meaning referrals to the Ombudsman of a different project,” he said noting that the commission is focusing on over 400 ghost or non-existent flood control projects.

The ICI earlier vowed to submit up to 20 case referrals to the Ombudsman by November.