Former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go laughed off as fake news reports being spread on Twitter that an Armed Forces of the Philippines helicopter he was on, crashed in Albay.
Go accompanied President Rodrigo Duterte when the Chief Executive conducted an aerial inspection of the damage caused by Tropical Depression “Usman” in the Bicol region, particularly in Camarines Sur.
“Multo po ito ni Bong Go na kausap ninyo (This Bong Go you are speaking to is a ghost),” the former presidential aide said in jest during a radio interview when asked to comment about the report of the supposed chopper crash.
“Let’s pray for him. Dis is bong Ghost texting you,” he also said in a text message to reporters and friends.
Go was in Quezon as guest of honor at the grand alumni homecoming of the Recto Memorial National High School.
Turning serious, he said he is not afraid to die for the country in the service of his fellow Filipinos.
“Pag panahon mo na, panahon mo na. Sabi nga ni Pangulong Duterte parati sakin yan. Di ako takot mamatay, basta para sa pag serbisyo sa kapatid nating Filipino (When it’s your time, it’s your time. That’s what President Duterte tells me. I am not afraid to die, especially if it is in service of our Filipino brothers),” Go said.
“Wala akong magagawa kung may mga nais na may mangyaring masama sa amin pero gaya ng laging sinasabi ni Pangulong Duterte, kapag oras mo na, oras mo na (I cannot do anything about those who want something bad to happen to us, but like the President said – if it’s your time, it’s your time),” he added.
Go added that he intends to pray for those spreading fake news and wishing him dead.
“Kasama po ni Saint Christopher na isang martyr, ipagdadasal ko po kayo. Karma na ang bahalang bumuwelta sa mga nagpakalat ng aniya’y fake news at nagdarasal na may mamatay. (With Saint Christopher the martyr, I will pray for you. Those who spread fake news and pray that someone dies, will eventually meet their karma),” he said.
“I cannot do anything about those who want something bad to happen to us, but like the President said – if it’s your time, it’s your time.”
On Jan. 5, the anti-Duterte group GovPH(@AltGovPH) posted on Twitter a report on the supposed chopper that crashed with Go onboard with the headline “Developing: AFP chopper na sakay si Bong Go nag crash land sa Albay.”
The post also showed a television screen grab of an ABS-CBN report last November on the crash of a helicopter carrying Rep. Anthony Bravo and former House Secretary General Cesar Pareja. The caption of the screen grab was changed to read: “AFP chopper sakay si former SAP Bong Go nag crash land sa Albay.”
“With Saint Christopher the martyr, I will pray for you. Those who spread fake news and pray that someone dies, will eventually meet their karma.”
