Due process and fairness must be upheld, says Bong Go stressing that judgments based merely on intrigues will be counterproductive in the fight against corruption and may stifle COVID-19 response efforts

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go appealed for fairness and respect for due process in order for the truth to come out in any probe concerning anomalies in government. He warned the public of the stifling effect on ordinary government employees if investigations supposedly in aid of legislation are conducted unjustly.

While he expressed his support for the ongoing Senate probe on the use of COVID-19 funds, he said that such efforts should be conducted in a fair manner by letting resource persons clarify issues thrown against them without being prejudged, badgered or bullied.

"Marami pong natatakot gumalaw ngayon. 'Yung mga opisyales ng gobyerno, takot na pong gumalaw, wala nang gustong gumalaw kaya po natatagalan lalo," said Go in a privilege speech in the Senate on Tuesday, August 31.

"Alam ninyo po, magkasama tayo lalong-lalo na po sa laban sa korapsyon sa gobyerno, sana naman po sa tamang paraan. Hindi po sa bullying na pamamaraan," said Go.

Moreover, Go warned that unjust treatment of fellow government officials who were summoned as resource persons might possibly adversely affect their ability to perform their duties and take the attention away from the country's efforts to overcome the health crisis.

"Habang naghi-hearing, tumataas ang kaso, hindi na po nakaka-focus ang government workers natin lalo na 'yung mga DOH officials at 'yung involved sa vaccination efforts natin dahil takot na pong gumalaw," he said.

"Importante sa ating lahat ang COVID-19 response. We cannot afford to fail. Buhay po ang nakataya, buhay po ang nakasalalay dito. Tumataas ang kaso, 22,000 cases po kahapon, naging dominant variant na po ngayon ang Delta," said Go.

He also said that a fair hearing should lead to corrupt officials being prosecuted in accordance with the law.

"Nakakatakot po ito. Pero habang tumataas ang kaso, tayo nag-aaway dito. Hindi po ito nakakatulong. Kung merong kakasuhan, kasuhan na po at ikulong na po, para makapagtrabaho na tayo," he added.

While the Senator supports the Senate's quest for finding the truth, he also advised some of his colleagues to "listen" before leaping to conclusions.

"But if we do not know how to listen, or, worse, if we already have a conclusion even before getting all the facts, then we have failed in providing the people true and accurate information," said Go.

"Aren't we all for the truth?" he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Go, is watching the proceedings. Nonetheless, he urged his colleagues to work together to discover the truth.

"I am one with you here in the Committee. Sinusubaybayan po ng Pangulo ang lahat. Pinapanood po niya, binabantayan po niya. Ipinagtatanggol ko po ang ating trabaho," said Go.

"I am with you, sa lahat po ng colleagues ko rito para malaman po ang katotohanan. Pagtulungan po natin, alamin natin ang katotohanan at kasuhan ang may kasalanan," he added.

Noting government critics' attempts to undermine the COVID-19 efforts, Go assured that the government has no "grand scheme" of corruption, which he and Duterte will not tolerate.

"Ang gusto po ng kalaban is to discredit the COVID response of the administration. Sa administrasyong ito, walang grand scheme ng pagnanakaw, lalo na ngayong pandemic," said Go.

"Hindi po papayag si Pangulong Duterte. Galit po kami ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga magnanakaw," he ended.