Trillanes, as a private citizen, files plunder and graft raps vs Duterte and Go over alleged ₱7B DPWH projects; Go welcomes probe.
MANILA — Former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, acting as a private citizen, filed plunder and graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman on October 21, 2025, against former president Rodrigo Duterte and senator Christopher “Bong” Go over nearly ₱7 billion in alleged government infrastructure awards to construction firms owned by Go’s father and brother.
Also named as respondents were Deciderio Lim Go and Alfredo Armero Go, Go’s father and brother, respectively. Trillanes said the firms CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders cornered contracts from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over several years. He filed the case under Republic Acts 7080 (plunder), 3019 (anti-graft), and 6713 (code of conduct and ethical standards), which empower any citizen to report alleged public-official misconduct to the Ombudsman.
Complaint cites COA, DPWH data
According to the complaint, CLTG Builders—owned by Go’s father—and Alfrego Builders—owned by his brother—secured about ₱6.95 billion in DPWH projects from the late 2000s through the Duterte administration. Trillanes also cited a joint venture between CLTG Builders and St. Gerrard Construction, owned by the Discaya family, which allegedly received another ₱816 million in contracts from 2016 to 2022.
The complaint references Commission on Audit (COA) and DPWH records covering nearly 200 projects in the Davao region. Trillanes claimed these transactions violated conflict-of-interest and anti-graft provisions that prohibit public officials and their relatives from benefiting from government contracts.
He described Go as a “central figure” in the alleged transactions and Duterte as the approving authority both during his term as Davao City mayor and later as president.
Go: “Culprits should be held liable”
Sen. Go denied any wrongdoing and welcomed an investigation. “Now that it’s with the Ombudsman, there is COA…. If there were irregularities in these projects, sue the people involved…. Culprits should be held liable,” he said in Filipino, adding that he would support accountability “even against my own family members” if proven guilty. Go also said he has “no connections” with the Discayas or their flood-control projects.
Ombudsman investigation process
Under the law, the Ombudsman may evaluate the complaint, require counter-affidavits from the respondents, and subpoena COA and DPWH records. If probable cause is found, it can file cases before the Sandiganbayan.
R.A. 7080 defines plunder as accumulating at least ₱50 million in ill-gotten wealth through a combination of overt acts, while R.A. 3019 and R.A. 6713 penalize graft and conflicts of interest by public officials.
Trillanes emphasized that he filed the case as an ordinary citizen, not in any official capacity, saying the evidence he presented was sourced from public documents and COA reports. The Ombudsman Act allows “any person” to report alleged acts of corruption.
Flood-control contracts under scrutiny
Media reports citing the complaint noted that flood-control and road-widening projects in Davao were among those awarded to the firms. COA data reportedly show CLTG Builders winning 125 DPWH contracts from 2007 to 2018, and Alfrego Builders dozens more in 2017–2018. Asian Journal has not independently verified these numbers and attributes them to the complaint and referenced COA documents.
As of press time, the filing remains an allegation. All respondents are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until the Ombudsman completes its investigation and, if warranted, files formal charges.
