Duterte's campaign against corruption spares no one, says Bong Go as he supports Senate probe and calls on COA, Ombudsman to pursue cases against erring officials

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go stated that he and President Rodrigo Duterte are unwaveringly committed to fighting corruption and will never compromise their relentless campaign for the sake of anyone.

During a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Friday, August 27, Go reiterated in a manifestation his firm stand in ensuring that no government funds are lost to corruption.

"As a senator and member po of the Blue Ribbon Committee, nakikiisa po ako sa inyo rito at kasama n'yo po ako dito na gustong malaman ang katotohanan," said Go.

"Panagutin po ang dapat panagutin, kasuhan po ang dapat kasuhan, ikulong po ang dapat ikulong. Seryoso po si Pangulong Duterte sa kampanya laban sa korapsyon, wala kaming pinapalampas kahit sino ka man, kahit saan ka man nanggaling basta napatunayang sangkot ka sa korapsyon, dapat kang managot," he added.

Go also called on the Commission on Audit and the Ombudsman to investigate and file cases against those who will be found responsible for corruption and other anomalies.

"Kaya nga po nakikiusap ako sa COA, sa Ombudsman na imbestigahan, panagutin ang may anomalya. Kaya nga po may COA, Ombudsman, at Sandiganbayan tayo - imbestigahan, kasuhan, at ikulong ang dapat managot," said Go.

"Iyan naman po ang trabaho nila para matigil na po ang mga haka-haka dahil sabi ko nga unfair naman po ito sa mga nagtatrabaho po nang matino," he added.

The Senator noted, however, that some individuals have been unfairly judged over issues even in the absence of conclusive facts. He appealed to fellow lawmakers and the public for fairness and let due process take its course.

"Labanan po ito ng perception. Kawawa naman po 'yung napagbibintangang magnanakaw dahil lang sa obserbasyon na hindi pa naman pinal o conclusive. Findings pa lang ay nahuhusgahan na sila. Kawawa naman 'yung mga nadadamay na tao na wala namang kaalam-alam. Binigyan naman ang DOH ng 60 days (ng COA) para sagutin or i-rectify ang mga obserbasyon sa kanila," the Senator said.

"May proseso po tayong dapat sundin, bigyan po natin sila ng pagkakataon na sagutin. Kung hindi masagot o hindi ma-account, kasuhan na po kaagad natin dahil importante po ang bawat piso na pondo po ng bayan. Marami po ang nangangailangan lalong-lalo na po nasa krisis tayo ngayon," he added.

Go then assured that President Duterte means business in the continuing fight against corruption, criminality and illegal drugs, saying that he will spare no one—including his supporters—if found to be involved in corruption.

"He (PRRD) means business, kapag may kinalaman, tuluyan na. Yariin na po natin. Kapag pumasok ka sa korapsyon, yari ka talaga. Iyan naman ang isa sa mga una niyang ipinangako sa mga kababayan natin, campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption," said Go.

"[A]ng mahalaga dito ang polisiya namin ni Pangulong Duterte kahit sino ka man, kahit saan ka man nanggaling, kahit tumulong ka pa noong election kay Pangulong Duterte, kapag pumasok ka sa korapsyon, yari ka talaga. Pero kung wala naman, itigil na lang po ang pang-iintriga sa kapwa. Kawawa naman po," he added.

Go went on to say that the Duterte administration takes any allegations of corruption seriously and that the proper procedures are being followed in investigating them to uncover the truth.

"Kung may reklamo at haka-haka, may intriga, may proseso naman po ang Executive branch para ma-imbestigahan ang sinumang gumawa po ng korapsyon," said Go.

"Binibigyang halaga ni Pangulong Duterte ang bawat reklamo. Kahit ano man ang reklamo, katukin lang daw siya at handa siya makinig. Kung anuman gawin nilang proseso na naaayon sa batas, nasa Executive branch na po... nasa kanila na po iyon. May proseso pong ginagawa ang Executive branch," he mentioned.

Meanwhile, Go repeated that former Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, who is currently under scrutiny over transactions done by the DBM Procurement Service at the early stage of the pandemic, was never his aide even when he was still Special Assistant to the President.

"Sa muli, inuulit ko po for the nth time— hindi ko aide o hindi ko po tauhan si Atty. Lloyd Lao. Kailanman, hindi po siya directly reporting sa akin na tauhan talaga. Iba 'yung aide na tauhan mo na nagre-report sa'yo. May sarili siyang trabaho. May sarili siyang buhay," said Go.

Go, who served as SAP from 2016 to 2018, asserted that Lao was only one of several employees in Malacañang at the time they both worked at the Palace. Lao was designated as a PMS undersecretary from 2016 to 2017.

"Si Lao ay isa lang sa daan-daang empleyado o opisyal doon sa Malacañang noon. He was appointed to the Presidential Management Staff at the start of President Duterte's term until early 2017. After which, he was appointed nga po to HLURB and later to the DBM in 2019 before resigning last June of this year," said Go.

Go also stated that he was not engaged in the daily operations and management of various offices under the Office of the President during his time as SAP, adding that the role is more of an oversight function.

"As Special Assistant to the President then, I was not involved in the day-to-day operations and management of (these units in) the Office of the President," he said.

"Limitado lang ako sa administrative and supervisory functions, sinisiguro na nagagawa nila ang kanilang mga mandates, maipatupad ang mga improvements sa mga sistema at proseso para mas maging efficient at effective po ang opisina po ang Office of the President," he added.

Go also presented documents during the hearing such as Lao's service record, salary information, and the plantilla itemization of OSAP in 2016 showing that Lao was officially part of the PMS and not directly under his office then.

Meanwhile, Go reminded erring public officials who refuse to follow Duterte's anti-corruption policies that they will suffer consequences for their actions.

"Gaya ng sabi ko, ang pangunahing bilin nga ng Pangulo sa kanyang mga ina-appoint, hindi po siya nakikialam paano po nagtatrabaho ang mga tao niya, ito lang po ang sinasabi niya...: 'Just do what is right and avoid corruption.' Kapag ginagawa mo ang tama at inuuna mo ang interes ng mga Pilipino, suportado ka namin,' Go assured.

"Wala kaming pinipili ni Pangulong Duterte sa laban kontra korapsyon, kriminalidad, at iligal na droga. Kung mapatunayang may kasalanan talaga, kasuhan na agad para matapos na ang isyung ito at mas matutukan na natin ang laban kontra sa pandemya," he added.