Bong Go on COVID-19 funds probe: If they have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear
SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go urged all those who have been summoned to appear in the continuing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry into the use of COVID-19 funding to come forward and face the investigation, saying that if they have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear.
“Nananawagan din po ako sa lahat, dapat na lumabas na po sila to shed light, para maklaro po sa publiko. Lalung-lalo na po yung mga kakilala ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte,” said Go during a radio interview.
Go is also alluding to Michael Yang, a former adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte who is allegedly linked to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a business entity which is involved in billion peso pandemic response contracts last year.
“Hindi naman po dini-deny ni Pangulong Duterte na 1999 pa niya kakilala si Michael Yang. Pero hindi ibig sabihin kakilala na niya noong 1999 ay papayagan na po ni Pangulo na gumawa ng kalokohan,” Go said.
“In fact, noong pumunta ‘yan si Michael Yang ng Davao City noon, unang ginawang warning ni Pangulong Duterte sa kanya ‘pag pumasok ka sa droga dito kita ililibing. So ibig sabihin, hindi po papayag si Pangulong Duterte na mayroong kalokohan — na papasok sa kalokohan kahit na kaibigan, kahit na tumulong sa kanya. Hindi po siya papayag anumang kalokohan,” Go shared.
Malacañang had already dismissed allegations of wrongdoing in the procurement of reportedly overpriced medical supplies for the COVID-19 pandemic, which is currently being investigated by the Senate, as contained in the initial findings of the Commission on Audit. COA earlier clarified that its preliminary findings do not indicate missing funds but only purported inefficient use of the same.
On August 31, Go emphasized in his privilege speech that culprits who are proven to be complicit in any wrongdoing should be brought to justice. He did underscore, however, that due process must be followed.
“Ako po, sinabi ko na rin sa inyo sa aking privilege speech, parati kong sinasabi ‘pag may kalokohan ay kasuhan, panagutin. Pero bigyan po natin ng due process, ‘yung totoo lang po, ‘yung totoo lang po. Lalung-lalo na po sa mga taong nagtatrabaho naman ng matino,” said Go.
“Pero ‘pag napatunayang may kasalanan, kasuhan. Kaya tayo mayroong Ombudsman at mayroon tayong Sandiganbayan at kung napatunayan ay dapat pong ikulong,” he added.
Go said the country’s judicial system must be trusted, assuring the public that he and Duterte will not allow anyone who engages in corruption or other transgressions to not be held accountable for their actions.
“Sana naman po magtiwala tayo sa ating judicial system. Kasuhan po kaagad ‘pag may kasalanan,” he said.
“Hindi po kami papayag ni Pangulong Duterte, hindi po namin kinukunsinti kahit sino pa man po, kahit sino ka pa, kahit saan ka nanggaling, kahit taga-Davao ka pa. ‘Pag pumasok ka sa kalokohan, yari ka talaga,” Go assured.
