SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go challenged former Senator Antonio Trillanes to prove first that he is clean before throwing mud at other people and even dubbed the former colleague “Mr. Fake News” for inventing accusations in light of the upcoming elections.

In a radio interview and a statement released, Senator Go slammed Trillanes’ accusations of corruption against him and President Rodrigo Duterte, adding that all of it had been answered in the past.

“Lumang tugtugin na ‘yan. Halatang sirang plaka itong si Trillanes. Noong September 2018, may mga akusasyon siya sa akin. Sa kakabintang niya sa akin, naging senador po ako,” said Go during the interview.

“Tingnan nyo, hubaran nyo ‘yan, makikita nyo napakadumi nyan. Siguro ang dugo nya, marumi pa sa acetic, ‘yung oil. Ganun po kalapot ang dugo ng taong ‘yan. Napakadumi ng budhi. Mag-iimbento ‘yan, ibig sabihin bloated po,” he added.

In a video posted on social media, the former senator accused Go of plundering billions worth of government projects awarded to enterprises owned or managed by his family. These accusations were already released in 2018 but were not proven and no cases were filed until now.

“Walang bago sa akusasyon niya. Rehashed issue, fabricated o bloated na mga numero na ilang taong maling ipinagdudugtong para lumaki ang halaga to make it look as if may plunder o anomalya na nangyari when, clearly, these transactions went through public bidding and proper procurement procedures in accordance with our laws,” Go said in his statement.

“Eh wala naman po akong kinalaman diyan. Kahit ilang taon na pong lumipas iyan, wala naman po akong kinalaman diyan at wala po akong pakinabang diyan. Ni piso po wala po akong pakialam diyan,” he added.

While noting that he has no involvement whatsoever in the transactions between the government and his family’s business, Go, in an earlier statement, mentioned that legitimate transactions may not be considered plunder.

“Naging mambabatas ka naman, Trillanes, at may mga abogado ka rin naman, paano naging plunder laban sa akin at kay Pangulong Duterte ang isang lehitimong transaksyon ng gobyerno na wala naman kaming kinalaman?” Go mentioned.

Go mentioned that he had long discouraged his family members from going to the Davao City Hall to gain unfair advantage and advance their business interests when he started working for then mayor Duterte.

“Ako naman po sinagot ko na ‘yan. Tanungin nyo po ang mga tao dito sa city hall of Davao, 2001 po nagtrabaho ako dyan, di po nakakapasok ang aking mga magulang dyan. Sinabi ko sa kanila kapag kayo pumasok, magreresign po ako. That’s delicadeza,” said Go

“Sinabi ko na sa kanya noon na kung mapapatunayan niya ang paratang niya, magre-resign kaagad ako. Nakalipas na po ang halos tatlong taon at wala namang napatunayan si Trillanes,” the Senator also said.

“Lahat ng mga ito ay nasagot ko na. Puro kasinungalingan ang pinapakain niya sa taumbayan, puro lies ang pinapakain niya sa taumbayan. Kaysa makatulong, nilalason lang niya ang isipan ng mga Pilipino para sa kanyang pansariling interes,” he added.

Go said that Trillanes is recycling old issues in light of the upcoming elections.

The senator then explained that the transactions between the government and his family’s business did not benefit him.

“Hindi pa ako ipinanganak sa mundong ito, andyan na ang negosyo ng pamilya ko. Bagama’t hindi ko naman mapigilan ang isang marangal at lehitimong negosyo dahil nakapagbibigay ito ng maayos na trabaho at kabuhayan sa mga tao, hinding-hindi ako nakikialam dyan,” said Go.

Go also mentioned that all transactions between the government and his family’s business went through the proper and legitimate bidding procedure.

“’Yung sinasabi niyang Joint Venture, ito’y isang paraan ng pag-implementa ng pribado at pampublikong proyekto na matagal na at naaayon sa batas. Dumadaan sa public bidding at pagsusuri ang mga ito upang masiguro na compliant at legal ang mga nais pumasok sa kontrata sa gobyerno,” Go clarified.

Go stated that he and Duterte remain dedicated to fighting corruption in government. He also stated that he will not squander the opportunity to serve Filipinos by prioritizing business interests.

In closing, Go challenged Trillanes to file charges if he is certain in his accusations.

“Mr. Fake News, Trillanes, huwag ka nang magpaliguy-ligoy pa. Kung tingin mong may korapsyon na nangyari, kasuhan mo para mapanagot. May proseso at hukuman na makapagpapatunay ng mga iyan. Huwag mo daanin sa istilo mong bulok,” Go challenged the former senator.

“Nagtatrabaho ako dito para magserbisyo sa aking kapwa Pilipino. Ikaw naasan ka, Mr. Fake news?,” he stressed.

Go also slammed Trillanes’ dirty tactics every time election nears. “Sinabi ko naman, hindi ako interesadong tumakbo. Senador pa ako hanggang 2025, aantayin sana kita sa Senado para magtuos tayo kahit anong gusto mo. Ang tanong, kung mananalo ka pa?”

“Pero dinadamay mo na naman ako dahil papalapit na ang eleksyon. Tulad ng ginawa mo noong 2018, puro mga imbento at paninira. Kita mo, naging Senador ako. Ngayon baka lang, pagsuwertehin uli ako, kung saan ka tatakbo, susundan kita.”

“Ngayon, ako naman ang may tanong kay Trillanes, si Trillanes na Mr. Fake News at walang delicadeza… Pinagbawalan mo ba noon ang iyong nanay at tatay habang sundalo ka noong pumasok sila bilang supplier sa Navy? Nasaan ang delicadeza mo doon?,” he said