DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go welcomed the move of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to initiate a Senate probe on the alleged billions of pesos worth of projects reportedly awarded to Go’s family and relatives.
Go said he would resign if the allegations are proven to be true, but said Trillanes should quit the Senate if the story is found to be false.
In an interview with dzMM, Go also called Trillanes “duwag” or a coward as he dared the senator to leave the Senate and go home.
“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. I am even asking Trillanes to start as soon as possible,” Go said in a statement yesterday.
Trillanes said yesterday morning he would file a resolution to investigate the projects that were allegedly garnered by the construction firms of Go’s father and his half-brother.
Earlier, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported that construction firms belonging to Go’s relatives got multibillion-peso contracts in the government’s infrastructure program while partnering with bigger companies.
Go denied any wrongdoing involving the construction firms of his relatives, even daring Trillanes to resign should his allegations be proven wrong.
“In the course of the investigation, 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, Trillanes, should resign,” Go said.
Reports showed that top contractors in Southern Mindanao include entities owned by the father and the half-brother of Go, CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders and Supply.
“This afternoon, I will be filing a resolution, calling for an investigation,” Trillanes said at a press briefing in the Senate yesterday morning.
“I will be more than happy to face the inquiry as this will give me another chance to prove my non-involvement and another Senate appearance will also give me free media mileage,” Go added.
For his part, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday it is the prerogative of the Senate to conduct the probe.
“They can investigate. It is up to them,” Roque said at a press briefing yesterday morning in Malacañang.
Roque added that he has no knowledge what President Duterte said about the report on the contracts.
“I do not know because it was not discussed,” Roque said.