Bong Go slams malicious reports over President Duterte's health; issues stern warning against perpetrators of fake news that they will be held accountable

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has dismissed malicious and baseless reports claiming President Rodrigo Duterte was airlifted from Davao City to Singapore over the weekend due to a medical emergency. He also urged the individuals behind the lies to stop spreading the fake news.

"Ang Pangulo po ay nagtatrabaho lang. Nasa Davao po siya at ginagampanan po niya ang kanyang tungkulin bilang Pangulo. In fact, halos ay wala nga pong pahinga ang ating Pangulo dahil nga mino-monitor niya ang sitwasyon," Go said during an interview with Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday, August 18.

"Bagama't kailangan niya rin pong umuwi ng Davao upang tingnan na rin po ang sitwasyon sa Mindanao ay makikita ninyo po na kagabi ay napaka-healthy naman po ni Pangulo. Bagama't 75 years old na po 'yon ay talagang kayod kalabaw pa rin 'yan para makapagserbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino," he continued.

On Monday, the Senator released a photo of the President dining with his family in their home in Davao City. He also posted a live video on Facebook of Duterte before a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. likewise refuted the reports. He assured the public that there had been no medical emergency and the President has not left Davao. Instead, various precautions have been taken to ensure his health and safety.

Later in the IATF meeting, President Duterte denied reports of him leaving the country and stressed that a "leader will always stay during a crisis".

"Alam ninyo po sa mga gumagawa ng fake news, dapat managot talaga kayo," Go sternly said.

"Okay lang po 'yung i-criticize ninyo po ang Pangulo. Okay lang po i-criticize ninyo kami kung mayroon kaming trabaho na dapat ayusin, at kung makakatulong naman po 'yung pag-criticize ninyo. Very much welcome po 'yon sa amin bilang public officials... karapatan ninyo pong i-criticize kami para i-improve pa po ang aming serbisyo para sa inyo," he continued.

The Senator expressed his dismay over the inaccurate reports of the President's health that keep circulating which could create panic and worsen the ongoing crisis. He also encouraged the public to be vigilant with the information they receive and always validate the accuracy of these reports.

"[Iyong] pagpapakalat ninyo ng fake news, isipin ninyo po may tatay rin kayo, may mga anak rin po kayo, eh kung ginawa po 'yun sa tatay ninyo, sasabihin ganito na po ang nangyari may sakit, mamamatay na po, 'di ba kayo masasaktan? Bilang isang tatay natin si Tatay Digong, nabalitaan ninyo nasa Singapore na daw nagkakasakit. Marami pong Filipino ang nababahala, eh dagdag kalbaryo po ito sa problema na kinakaharap na nga natin ngayon," said Go.

"Nandirito na nga tayo sa krisis na hinaharap natin ay bibigyan ninyo pa ng problema 'yung Pilipino at mag-aalala pa sila dahil kung ano na po ang nangyari daw sa kanilang Tatay Digong... pakiusap na lang po, magtulungan na lang tayo, huwag tayong magpakalat ng mga fake news diyan. Hindi talaga ito nakakatulong."