Senator Bong Go (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo courtesy of Sen. Go)
MANILA – Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Friday took a swipe at former senator Antonio Trillanes IV for crafting an “invented story” about his and President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed involvement in corruption activities.
This, after Trillanes bared his plan to reveal next week the alleged irregularities committed by Duterte and Go.
“Kung puro patutsada at paninira lang, sayang lang po oras natin sa mga imbentong kwento ni Trillanes. At kung may alam talaga siya, bakit po next week pa (If he would only make an insinuation and engage in character assassination, we would just waste our time with Trillanes’ invented story. And if he really knows something, why wait for next week)?” Go said in a statement.
In a Twitter post on Thursday, Trillanes slammed Duterte for asking government agencies accused of corruption to cooperate with possible inquiries that would be initiated by Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Trillanes also turned the tables on Duterte, whom he said had “many alibis” on ill-gotten wealth allegations even before he became president in 2016.
Trillanes added that he is ready to bare next week the anomalous transactions involving Duterte and Go.
Go expressed confidence that Trillanes would not be able to substantiate his claim against him and Duterte.
“Sanay na tayo diyan. Maglalabas ng akusasyon, hindi naman kayang patunayan kasi puro imbento lang ang nalalaman (We’re used to it already. He will make an accusation which is baseless because all he knows is invent stories),” Go said.
Go also scoffed at Trillanes’ modus” to taint others’ reputation to gain public attention.
He added that Trillanes is making another unfounded claim since the latter is considering running for president in the 2022 national elections.
“‘Yan na modus niya mula noon. Pintahan ng itim ang iba para siya ang mapansin. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin niya matanggap na wala na siyang maloloko sa ganyang kalokohan niya (That’s his modus. To taint others so he will be noticed by the public. Until now, he could not accept that no one will be fooled by his nonsense),” he said.
Contrary to Trillanes’ claim, Go said he and the Duterte administration are doing their best to eliminate corruption in government.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, iisa lang naman po ang ating hangarin at iyan ay ang sugpuin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno. Iyan ang ipinangako ni Pangulong Duterte kaya walang tigil ang laban na ito. Halos bawat linggo may sinususpinde o tinatanggal sa puwesto, sibak dito, sibak doon (To our countrymen, our only desire is to fight corruption in government. That is President Duterte’s promise that’s why the anti-corruption drive remains relentless. Almost every week, government workers involved in corruption are either suspended or removed from office. There’s a firing spree),” Go said.
Go also urged the public to report corruption activities and other anomalies within government.
“Magtulungan po tayo. Kung may alam kayo, pangalanan ninyo, imbestigahan at kasuhan natin. Katotohanan lang po ang kailangan para mapanagot ang mga korap. Isumbong ninyo sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte at kapag mapatunayang totoo, sigurado sibak yan (Let’s help each other. If you know someone, name them and we will investigate and sue them. We just need the truth to hold corrupt government workers accountable. Report it to me and President Duterte. If the allegations are true, they will be fired),” he said. (PNA)
