Philippine plunder lawsuit over government contracts to cronies adds to Duterte’s legal woes

Former leader accused of awarding infrastructure projects worth US$114 million to the family of his aide Christopher Go

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte (left) with his aide Christopher Lawrence Go in Manila. Photo: AP

Published: 3:33pm, 5 Jul 2024

A former Philippine opposition senator accused ex-president Rodrigo Duterte of plundering state coffers in a criminal complaint filed on Friday, alleging that he conspired with an aide to award government infrastructure contracts worth millions of dollars to cronies.

Filed with the Department of Justice in Manila, the accusation adds to the former president’s legal worries, which include an investigation by the International Criminal Court into allegations of crimes against humanity over the widespread killings of suspects during Duterte’s drugs crackdowns.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said two construction companies, owned by the father and brother of long-time Duterte aide and now senator Christopher Lawrence Go, bagged more than 100 government construction contracts worth at least 6.6 billion pesos (US$114 million) from 2007 to 2018 in the southern city of Davao, while Duterte was mayor. Neither company had the resources or manpower to handle large-scale infrastructure construction, according to Trillanes.

Duterte and Go did not immediately comment, but they have previously denied any wrongdoing in office.

Trillanes accused Duterte, Go and the relatives who owned the two companies of plunder. Under Philippine law, the crime of plunder is committed when a government official acquires ill-gotten wealth of 50 million pesos (US$862,000) or more from government funds through corrupt acts in combination with family or associates. It’s punishable by life in prison. The government can also seize illegally acquired wealth or properties after a conviction.

Go, “in conspiracy with Mr. Duterte, used his position, authority and influence to corner billions worth of government projects in favour of his father and brother, thus, unduly enriching himself and the members of his immediate family,” Trillanes said. “Now is the perfect time to make them accountable.” He added, without elaborating, that the former president would face more lawsuits in the future.