Bong Go: Senate probes must remain impartial, politics-free
SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his support for the ongoing Senate investigation into the use of public funds for the COVID-19 pandemic response. He, however, maintained that such efforts must remain impartial and devoid of politics.
In an interview, Go expressed concern about the timing and conduct of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe as evident in the past hearings where there seems to be an effort to imply guilt even if the Commission on Audit has stated that the report they released is still just audit observations and standard procedure allows agencies to respond, rectify and clarify the issues cited.
“Trabaho po namin ‘yan bilang mambabatas pero I believe it’s also about timing… Sa paglabas po ng COA (Commission on Audit) ng observation nila… sila na ang nagsabi procedural pa lang ito, bibigyan ng pagkakataon ang Department of Health na sagutin… ang deadline before the end of the month ay sasagutin para iko-correct, ire-rectify ‘yung mga dapat nilang ayusin,” said Go during a radio interview on Sunday, September 5.
“So, ang ayaw lang nating mangyari sa ngayon ay mahaluan ang proseso ng pulitika. Alam niyo, papunta na tayo sa eleksyon, malapit na po ang kampanya, ang filing of (certificate of) candidacy,” he added.
Go also raised concerns that political interests might adversely affect the impartiality of the inquiries. He emphasized that while politics is inevitable, fairness and due process must prevail.
“Tingnan na lang natin ngayong October 8 sa filing po ng Certificate of Candidacy (COC). Tingnan n’yong mabuti ang karamihan diyan sa nangunguna sa imbestigasyon sa Blue Ribbon Committee ay may plano pong tumakbo sa susunod na halalan,” he explained.
“Ang ayaw lang po natin dito mangyari ay mahaluan na po ng pulitika, mahaluan na po ng paninira para lang po pinturahan ng itim ‘yung ibang tao para magmukha silang puti sa harapan ng publiko,” he said further.
Go then reminded those concerned of the need to exercise neutrality in the current investigation, emphasizing that the focus should be on uncovering the truth, without hampering the ongoing COVID-19 response efforts.
“Sana po’y maging patas lang, katotohanan lang po. Iisa lang po ang aming hangarin dito ng Senado at ni Pangulong Duterte, ang malaman ang katotohanan,” said Go.
“Kung mayroong kasalanan, panagutin, pero dapat maging fair naman po sa nagta-trabaho sa gobyerno, kawawa naman po,” he added.
The Senator also hopes that the probe will be free of politics and that the public’s interests will take precedence.
“Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay nakatutok din po dito. Pero ang problema lang talaga dito sasabihin ko sa inyo ay about the timing. Kung huhusgahan po natin ‘yung mga nagtatrabaho naman ng matino, ay matatakot na po ‘yang magtrabaho,” said Go.
“Sana po huwag lang po sana mahaluan po ng pulitika, hindi po dapat umiral ‘yung pamumulitika rather than the interest of the public,” he added.
When asked by the media if he thinks it would be better if the Senate probe will be conducted by the Committee of the Whole instead of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Go affirmed that he supports that idea if that is the pleasure of the majority in the Senate. This, he said, would allow for a more unbiased inquiry where all Senators can participate equally as it should be.
“Kung ako tatanungin niyo, kung ano pong desisyon ng majority ay reresepetuhin ko po ‘yun pero kahit naman tayo dito, kaming lahat ng 24 na senador ay interesado din sa katotohanan at iisa naman po ang ipinaglalaban natin dito, ‘yung katotohanan at lumabas po ‘yung katotohanan na walang masayang na pera ng gobyerno,” said Go.
“Pabor po ako kung saka-sakaling magdesisyon sila na Committee of the Whole para pantay-pantay po. Para hindi lang po iilang tao lang po ang nagpapatakbo ng hearing,” he added.
Go raised that efforts must be made to preserve the integrity of the Senate and not compromise its impartiality when conducting investigations in aide of legislation.
“So sana po’y hindi magamit dahil ‘yun po ang nangyayari ngayon, parang hindi na po patas-patas ‘yung pagdidinig,” said Go.
“Kumbaga, ang nangyayari ngayon, kontralado lang po ng iilan. Kapag sumagot naman po ang resource person, babarahin,” he further said.
According to Go, since all senators participated and approved the General Appropriations Act as well as the Bayanihan 1 and 2 laws that provided for the COVID-19 funds being questioned, then the whole Senate, as a collegial body, must also be part of the investigation on whether such funds were used appropriately.
“Lahat kami nag-apruba ng Bayanihan 1 and 2. Lahat kami ay halos bumoto diyan at lahat kami ay interesadong malaman ang katotohanan kung nagamit ba ‘yung pondo ng bayan sa tamang paraan at walang nasasayang,” he said.
Go also cited that previous Senate investigations related to the COVID-19 response efforts were done by the Committee of the Whole.
“At noong mga nakaraang hearings po namin puro Committee of the Whole para bigyan po kami ng pagkakataon isa-isa, pantay-pantay,” said Go.
“Ngayon po kung ako naman ang tatanungin ng majority, pabor po ako kung saka-sakaling magdesisyon sila na Committee of the Whole, para pantay-pantay po. Para hindi lang po iilang tao lang po ang nagpapatakbo ng hearing. Nagawa naman natin ito noon, noon pang mga inquiries tulad sa vaccine rollout,” he ended.