MANILA — Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he is just keeping his promise to serve the people and President Rodrigo Duterte despite quitting his government post.
The former top presidential aide made the remark as he dismissed the accusation of detained Senator Leila de Lima of early campaigning.
“It is true that I still go with President Dutere from time to time. Mahal ko si Tatay Digong (Duterte’s nickname). Nangako po ako sa kanya na hindi ko siya pababayaan habang buhay pa ako (I love Tatay Digong. I promised him that I will be by his side for the rest of my life),” Go said in a statement late Friday.
De Lima earlier said that Go’s actions are “akin to usurpation of authority, since someone else is supposed to have taken already his previous functions as SAP.”
The detained senator also accused Go of using public funds for his early campaigning.
Go is seeking a Senate seat in the May 13 midterm elections.
“Kung sunod man ako ng sunod, ito ay dahil sa pangako ko sa kanya, sa pamilya niya at sa lahat ng nagmamahal sa kaniya. Hindi ito kawalan sa gobyerno dahil ginagawa ko ito sa personal ko na kapasidad. Walang pera ng gobyerno na nasayang at walang drug money na ginamit (I am following him because this is a promise – to him, to his family, and to all those who love him. The government is not losing anything because I am doing this in my personal capacity. No government funds are wasted on me, and no drug money is used),” he explained.
Go also reiterated that he has friends who support his campaign.
“Marami akong mga kaibigan na naniniwala sa aking ipinaglalaban at tumutulong sa akin na maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan na nabiktima ng sunog at iba pang uri ng trahedya. Hindi ako katulad ni Senator de Lima na umano’y gumamit ng pondo galing sa mga drug lords para sa kanyang ambisyong politikal (I have many friends who believe in what I am fighting for and help me in serving people who are victims of fire and other calamities. I am not like Senator de Lima who has allegedly used funds from drug lords for her political ambition),” he said.
“Plano rin naming palakasin ang laban sa iligal na droga, kriminalidad at korapsyon — mga bagay na prinotektahan ninyo noon (We also plan to strengthen the fight against illegal drugs, crime and corruption — things that you used to protect in the past),” he added. (Philippines News Agency)
