Press Release
July 25, 2019

Go calls for support to reinstate death penalty for heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and corruption; vows to help Duterte admin deliver genuine positive change for all Filipinos

In an interview today, Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go called on his colleagues in the Senate to support the proposal to reinstate death penalty as punishment for heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder.

"Hinihikayat ko po ang mga kasamahan ko sa Senado at kongreso, wala naman tayong dapat ikatakot kung wala naman tayong ninanakaw. Magtulungan po tayong sugpuin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno," Go said.

One of the priority bills of Go is to revive death penalty as punishment for plunder and dangerous drugs related crimes. The bill entitled as "An Act reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes involving dangerous drugs and plunder," seeks to effectively promote peace and order in the country and support the program of the administration and President Duterte against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

"Tulungan niyo po ako dito at kung mayroon kayong ibang suggestion paano natin tutulungan ang gobyerno at si Pangulong Duterte. Exasperated na po si Pangulong Duterte upang labanan at sugpuin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno. Halos araw-araw, halos linggo-linggo po maraming reports na dumarating sa amin," he added.

Likewise, the Senator has also explained the bills he authored, which was highlighted by the President during his 4th State of the Nation Address, including his bill reimposing the death penalty for certain heinous crimes.

"Kami naman po ay hindi politiko, hindi rin kami magbibitaw ng salita na hindi namin kayang gampanan. Hintayin niyo na lang po ang resulta ng serbisyong tatak Duterte," Go said as he cite one of the bills he passed before the opening of the 18th Congress, which was the 'Malasakit Center Act of 2019' with the aim to institutionalize the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provinces and strategic urban centers in the country.

"Ang plano ko po ay ma-institutionalize ito para po kahit hindi na Pangulo si Pangulong Duterte, pagdating ng panahon ay tuloy-tuloy itong mga Malasakit Centers na ito," he said.

Senator Go has always been an advocate of quality healthcare in the Philippines. Based on his idea, the Malasakit Center is a continuing program of the administration seeking to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together under one roof all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and PhilHealth.

"Ang gusto namin ay mabilis na serbisyo. Huwag natin pahirapan ang ating mga kababayan na nanghihingi ng tulong," Go added.

The Senator also said that he will push for the additional benefits for solo parents and for the improvement of the welfare of Barangay health workers (BHWs).

"Maraming mga solo parents ngayon. Kailangang bigyan [sila] ng mga discount sa pagbili ng mga gamot o pananamit at isa ito sa na-ifile ko na bill. Pati na rin sa mga barangay health workers. Ang tinatanggap [lang] nila sa ngayon ay honorarium, bigyan natin sila ng benepisyo na dapat sa kanila. Sila po 'yung mga umiikot sa barangay para sa health, sila ang tumutulong para sa ating [mga] kababayan lalong-lalo na po doon sa mga malalayong lugar," he uttered.

To support the said measures, Go has filed Senate Bill No. 206 with its objective to amend the Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000. It states that the benefits and privileges granted by the existing law are not sufficient to provide for the needs of the single parents who are both the breadwinner and the caregiver of the family.

The Barangay health workers (BHWs) may also soon receive standard salaries and benefits as Senator Go filed a bill that mandates their appointment as regular government employees. Under existing laws, BHWs receive benefits and incentives only for voluntary health services rendered to the community. Senate Bill 392, otherwise known as the Barangay Health Workers Act of 2019 if pass into law, the BHWs will be entitled to benefits and privileges, as well as security of tenure.

The Senator has also mentioned the need to postpone the barangay 2020 election.

"Kaka-election lang po noong 2018 mag e-election na naman sa susunod na taon. Dalawang taon lang silang manunungkulan, hindi naman po nila kasalanan na dalawang taon lang po ang naiwan sa kanila sa kaka-postpone ng previous term nila," Go stated.

"Kaya gusto po namin silang bigyan ni Pangulong Duterte nang sapat na panahon na makapag silbi," the Senator added as he called for the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections slated this May 2020 to October of 2022 to give barangay officials ample time to finish their respective programs and projects.

As part of Go's legislative agenda aimed at helping the Duterte administration achieve positive genuine change felt by all Filipinos, the senator already filed his first 20 legislative measures before the 18th Congress started.

"Inuna ko po ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipinong pinaka-nangangailangan ng atensyon mula sa gobyerno. Para ito sa mga may sakit, mga ordinaryong manggagawa, mga biktima ng kalamidad, at mga kabataan na pagasa ng ating bayan. Ito ang serbisyong ipinangako ko sa inyo, serbisyo at pagmamalasakit na ramdam kahit saang dako ng bansa," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Go said that he will prioritize his job as a legislator. He also clarified that he will make sure to have no conflict between his relationship with the President and his job as a Senator.

"Uunahin ko ang trabaho ko bilang Senador. Pinili po ako ng mamamayan bilang Senador kaya prayoridad ko po ito. Subalit in my own personal capacity, hindi ko iiwanan si Pangulong Duterte, pangako ko po ito sa kaniya," Go stated.

As the most trusted aide of the President, Go said that he and the President will work committedly to achieve positive genuine change felt by all Filipinos.

"Alam niyo po hindi naman basta-basta maipasa 'yung personal na tiwala ng Pangulo sa akin. Pitong araw sa isang linggo, tatlong araw na session, at least isang araw na committee hearings po ang uunahin ko bilang senador. Ang nalalabi kong tatlong araw ay iuukol ko po sa Pilipino. Hindi na ako magpapahinga. Sasamahan ko si Pangulong Duterte at [kung] kailangan niya ng tulong ko ay sasamahan ko siya sa pagtulong sa Pilipino," Go added.

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