Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go said he is just keeping his promise to serve the people and President Rodrigo Duterte despite quitting his government post.
Go made the remark as he dismissed the early campaigning accusation hurled at him by detained Senator Leila de Lima.
“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),” the former top presidential aide said.
De Lima earlier said the former Palace official’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 him 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 fund is being wasted, and no drug money is being used),” he explained.
“The government is not losing anything because I am doing this in my personal capacity. No government fund is being wasted, and no drug money is being used.”
Go also reiterated that he has friends who are supporting 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 who are helping me in serving people who are victims of fire and other calamities. I am not like Senator de Lima who had allegedly used funds from drug lords for her political ambition),” he said.
“I have many friends who believe in what I am fighting for and who are helping me in serving people who are victims of fire and other calamities.”
“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),” Go added.
