Bong Go to gov’t execs: Always prioritize welfare of Filipinos
SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go called on all appointed and to-be appointed government officials to always put the welfare of the country and the Filipino people on top.
In an ambush interview after personally leading a series of relief operations for struggling residents in Davao City on August 5, Go, who was earlier elected in the newly constituted Commission on Appointments (CA), remarked, “Bilang inyong senador, I am honored to be part of the Commission on Appointments. I am honored na maging bahagi ng Commission on Appointments at part po ito ng checks and balances ng ating gobyerno.”
The consent of CA is needed for the appointments of the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in the President of the Philippines under the Constitution.
The appointments of the chairperson and commissioners of the constitutional commissions such as the Civil Service Commission, Commission on Elections, and Commission on Audit; as well as the regular members of the Judicial and Bar Council likewise require the consent of the Commission on Appointments.
“‘Yung mga naitalagang cabinet secretaries ay kailangan pong dumaan sa Commission on Appointments at iko-confirm po sila. ‘Yung mga qualified naman po na mga cabinet secretaries ay kailangang ikumpirma,” noted Go.
“So ako naman po bilang representative ng Senado, titingnan nating mabuti and of course, alam ko naman ‘yung mga naitalagang cabinet secretaries ay most likely qualified naman po sila. So busisiin nating mabuti,” he assured.
Meanwhile, Go reiterated that the primary duty of government officials, whether elected or appointed, is to serve the Filipino people, especially those who have nothing and no one to rely on except for the government.
He stressed, “Isa lang naman po ang pakiusap ko sa mga naitalagang cabinet secretaries (at iba pang government officials), unahin n’yo po ang kapakanan ng mga kababayan nating mahihirap.”
“Unahin po natin ang (makakabuti sa serbisyo) ng gobyerno at interes po ng mamamayang Pilipino. Ako po ay susuporta, lalung-lalo na po ‘pag uunahin n’yo po ang interes ng mga mahihirap,” he added.
Apart from Go, Senators Cynthia Villar and Francis Tolentino have also been earlier confirmed to be part of CA. The rest of the senators who will complete the seats in the commission are yet to be announced. Meanwhile, ten members of the House of Representatives have also been elected.
Under Article VI, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution, the CA shall consist of the Senate President as ex officio Chairman, 12 senators and 12 members of the House of Representatives, elected by each House on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein.
