SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go thanked former president and now House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for leading the filing of House Resolution No. 780, which declared “unequivocal defense” for former president Rodrigo Duterte against investigation or prosecution of the International Criminal Court.

“Unang-una, nagpapasalamat po ako kay dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at sa mga kasamahan niya sa Kongreso sa patuloy na tiwala at suporta kay dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” said Go in an ambush interview after personally aiding struggling residents in Quezon City on Friday, February 17.

Following the authorization of the ICC for the Office of the Prosecutor to resume its probe into the country’s war on drugs under the previous Duterte Administration, Go reiterated that former president Duterte merely acted in the best interest of the nation, its citizens, as well as to protect the future of younger generations of Filipinos.

“Ako po bilang senador at naging parte po ng administrasyon ni dating pangulong Duterte bago ako naging senador, alam ko naman po na ginawa lang po ni (dating) pangulong Duterte ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin para po sa kaligtasan ng ating mga anak. Alam n’yo, ginawa n’ya po ang sakripisyo para po ‘yon sa future ng ating mga anak,” stressed Go.

Go then reiterated that it is the Filipino people who should judge the implementation and results of the Philippine drug war, not a foreign court.

“Kayo na po ang humusga. Hayaan na natin ang taumbayan ang humusga, kung mas nakakalakad ba kayo sa gabi na hindi nababastos ang inyong mga anak at hindi nasasaktan. Ginawa po ni (dating) pangulong Duterte ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya at sakripisyo para po sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” said Go.

“Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, hayaan na lang natin ang ating kapwa Pilipino at hindi po ang banyaga para humusga sa ginawa n’ya po noong unang panahon,” he added.

Previously, former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque said in a press statement that Duterte refuses to be tried by foreign entities as long as Philippine courts are willing and able to do so.

“Abogado naman po si (dating) pangulong Duterte at mas gusto po ni (dating) pangulong Duterte that he will be judged by his fellow Filipinos in a Philippine court under Philippine laws,” reiterated Go.

“Bakit ibang bayan po ang huhusga sa atin, eh, may sarili naman tayong batas? At ako po ay naniniwala at may tiwala po ako sa ating judicial system,” he added.

“Buhay na buhay ang demokrasya sa ating bansa, mayroon tayong rule of law na pinapairal, at may sarili naman tayong mga korte na nananatiling malaya at mapagkakatiwalaan,” he explained further.

Arroyo, together with 18 other legislators, filed HR 780, titled “A Resolution In Defense of former President Duterte, the 16th President of the Philippines, Against Investigation and/or Prosecution of the ICC.”

The resolution notes the many accomplishments of the Duterte Administration as a result of its “holistic and whole of nation approach in ending insurgency and curbing the drug menace in the country.”

It also cited Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who referred to the ICC’s intention to reopen its probe into Duterte’s war on drugs as “insulting” and “totally unacceptable,” underscoring that the country has a working and independent justice system.

Notably, the Philippines withdrew its ICC membership in 2019.

When asked if a similar resolution will be filed in the Senate, Go said he should leave it up to his colleagues to decide.

“Mas mabuti po sigurong ang iba kong kasamahan kasi self-serving (kung ako). Dati po kaming magkasama ni (former) president Duterte. Basta ako po, ‘yun po ang aking statement bilang senador — ginawa po ni (dating) pangulong Duterte ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya para sa ikabubuti ng bansa,” maintained Go.

“Pilipino na po ang bahala sa kanya. Hinihikayat ko po ang ating mga kababayan na ipaglaban po natin si (dating) pangulong Duterte dahil ginawa niya po ang kanyang trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan,” concluded Go.