'Probe COVID-19 fund use without hampering pandemic response efforts', says Bong Go while urging entire government to be united to overcome public health emergency

In an interview given on Saturday, September 4, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go reassured that the Executive and Legislative branches of government are united in their common goal of eradicating corruption, safeguarding public funds, and leading the country in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.

Go stressed that public officials should set aside differences and work together for the good of those they represent. He expressed willingness to act as a bridge between the two branches in light of recent issues which have arisen.

"Ngayon, nasa public health emergency tayo, pandemya ang kalaban natin at hindi ang isa't isa. Ito ang panahon ng pagtutulungan at pagbabayanihan. Huwag nating sayangin ang oras sa siraan at sisihan. Importante malampasan natin ang pandemya ito ... We cannot afford to fail dahil buhay ang nakasalalay dito," said Go.

"Ako naman, bilang isang senador, patuloy akong magiging tulay sa Pangulo. Pero siyempre, uunahin kong ipagtanggol 'yung independence ng Senado, ng buong Kongreso, as a separate branch ng government at naiintindihan rin 'yon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte," he added.

"Sang-ayon po ako sa ginagawa namin dito sa Senado. Ang tanong lang dito is timing lang po. Hindi lang maiwasan minsan lalo na ngayon na palapit na ang eleksyon, mayroon pong mga... hindi lang masabi sa ngayon, (pero) maaaring gustong tumakbo...," he also stressed.

Go disclosed that Senate President Vicente Sotto III had personally reached out to him to express willingness to meet with President Duterte. He said that the Senate is helping in the COVID-19 response and assured that the President shares the same sentiment that focus must be on addressing the pandemic.

"Gaya ng dati, kung mayro'n siyang gustong iparating, nakakarating naman kay Pangulo at nasasagot naman 'yon ... Mabuti ring magkausap sila ng diretsahan para hindi lang 'yung nakukuha sa news reports at hindi nagkakaintindihan ... Parehas naman tayong mga Pilipino. Bukas din si Pangulong Duterte anytime sa pag-uusap para maliwanagan," maintained Go.

The Senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Health, pointed out that open communication among concerned officials and lawmakers is necessary to resolve issues instead of badgering or bullying resource persons in Senate hearings.

He cited the example of the non-disclosure agreements required by the vaccine manufacturers which previously prevented Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. from answering in public during Senate hearings.

But upon private discussions with SP Sotto and other senators, Galvez was able to clarify issues which resulted to both branches of government working together to address the concerns on vaccine procurement.

"Ang importante rito walang pagdududa ang publiko at walang pagdududa 'yung Senado sa ginagawa ng Executive. Kung maaari sana ay lagyan na lang natin ng clause. Halimbawa, may oversight function naman ang Kongreso. May representative ang Senado at Lower House para tingnan kung paano ginagamit, saan napunta 'yung pondo, sinong bumili para maiwasan na 'yung dudahan," explained Go.

He made it clear that all government agencies should still ensure that there are no irregularities in their financial transactions while carrying out their pandemic response activities. Following the release of the annual reports of the Commission on Audit, Go noted that premature judgments were made based on still inconclusive data.

"'Yung problema katulad nitong sa COA is procedural palang ito. So, ibig sabihin, pwede pang i-rectify. Ang nangyayari, nagkakaroon kaagad ng husgahan ... papaano gagalaw ang DOH o iba pang departamento kung gano'n ang mangyayari?" asked Go.

"Pwede naman kasuhan at ikulong kung may kasalanan. Pero masyado pang premature ... bigyan muna natin sila ng pagkakataon na magpaliwanag at tulungan natin silang maisaayos pa lalo ang ating COVID-19 response efforts," he appealed.

The Senator called for restraint and sobriety, warning that the ongoing investigations should not compromise or hamper the implementation of the government's COVID-19 response programs.

"Sa ngayon, takot ang nasa Executive gumalaw. Takot silang bumili, takot nang pumirma dahil naiipit sila. So, sinong magsa-suffer dito? Sinong mahihirapan dito? 'Yung mga kababayan natin na umaasa ng pondo at serbisyo ng Executive Department," emphasized Go.