Trillanes Files New Plunder Complaint vs Duterte, Go over Frigate Deal

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Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has lodged a fresh plunder complaint against ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and several other individuals linked to the allegedly corrupt Philippine Navy (PN) frigate acquisition project.


The complaint, filed on Wednesday, includes former Defense Undersecretary Raymundo Elefante, former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, former Navy chief Admiral Robert Empedrad, and seven private individuals among the respondents.


Trillanes, a retired naval officer, accuses them of breaching Section 2 of the Anti-Plunder Act and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. This case arises from the controversial P16-billion project aimed at acquiring two advanced warships for the PN, initiated during the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III and continued under Duterte.


The frigate deal became contentious in late 2017 when Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado was dismissed for advocating a specific brand of combat management systems (CMS) for the ships, which had been approved by the Navy’s technical working group.


In an ambush interview following the filing, Trillanes stated, "The PN provided specifications for what they needed, which went through a bidding process. But when the contractor won the bid, they suddenly changed the items that were agreed upon," referring to South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries.


He further alleged that Duterte coerced the PN into accepting these contract modifications and claimed that PN officials were summoned to Go's office, where the contractor's proposal was presented. Trillanes asserted that when Mercado resisted these changes, Duterte removed him from his position.


Mercado was succeeded by Empedrad, who allegedly approved the disputed contract changes, resulting in significant profits for the contractor. Duterte confirmed Go's involvement during his 2019 State of the Nation Address, stating he had instructed Go to intervene in the frigate project.


This latest complaint follows a previous one filed by Trillanes on July 5, accusing Duterte of misusing his authority to award P6.6 billion in public works contracts to companies owned by Go's family members.

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