(5 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Manila, Philippines – 5 July 2024
1. Former Philippine senator Antonio Trillanes walking down steps after filing criminal complaints against ex-Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte
2. Trillanes showing court documents
3. Close of documents
4. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Antonio Trillanes, former senator:
“I filed a plunder case this morning against our former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator (Christopher Lawrence) Bong Go. This is in regards to government projects totalling 6.6 billion pesos (around US$ 112,716,450) that they awarded to the father and sibling of Bong Go.”
5. Mid of media
6. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Antonio Trillanes, former senator:
“They used their position, authority and influence to award and corner projects, 184 government contracts that they awarded to the father and sibling of Bong Go that totals to 6.6 billion pesos.”
7. Philippine flag beside the Department of Justice seal
8. Close of Department of Justice seal
STORYLINE:
A former Philippine opposition senator accused ex-President Rodrigo Duterte of plundering state coffers in a criminal complaint filed 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 Sen. Antonio Trillares IV said two construction companies, owned by the father and brother of longtime Duterte aide and now senator Christopher Lawrence Go, bagged more than 100 government construction contracts worth at least 6.6 billion pesos ($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 Trillares.
Duterte and Go did not immediately comment, but they have previously denied any wrongdoing in office.
Trillares 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 ($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.
Government prosecutors will conduct their own investigation before deciding whether to indict Duterte and the other accused in a process that could take months or years.
AP video shot by Joeal Calupitan
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/278316d09260495e81ce3ccf93252b39
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in July 10, 2024, 9:04 am.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
