Senator Lawrence “Bong” Go reacted to the recent pronouncement of Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte saying he respects the opinion of the mayor but he will prioritize serving the Filipinos first rather than being confrontational.
This developed after the mayor criticized the senator for not speaking up about the issues affecting Davao City in the recent Hakbang ng Maisug rally in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The mayor expressed his displeasure at the senator’s silence about the ongoing issues in Davao City and urged Go to speak up for the Dabawenyos.
In a statement, Go reaffirmed his support for the Dutertes and fellow Dabawenyos.
“I support the Dutertes and my fellow Dabawenyos dahil ako ay isang Dabawenyo. Ang pamilya ko ay galing sa Batangas. Lumaki rin ako sa Metro Manila. Bisaya rin ako. At itinuturing ako na adopted son ng maraming munisipyo, lungsod at probinsya. That is why my loyalty is and will always be with the Filipino people,” he said.
Go said there is always a time for everything and this is the time to prioritize the welfare of the Filipinos.
“Ako ay patuloy na nagseserbisyo dahil ito ang aking mandato at natutunan mismo kay dating Pangulong Duterte. Uunahin ko palagi ang pagseseserbisyo, pagmamalasakit, at pagmamahal sa kapwa nang higit sa aking sarili. Tulad ng tanging bilin ni former president Rodrigo Duterte sa akin palagi, ‘unahin mo ang kapakanan ng iyong kapwa Pilipino, lalo na ang mahihirap at walang-wala, at hinding-hindi ka magkakamali’,” he said.
Meanwhile, Go also commented on the recent resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte as Education Secretary and co-chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) saying he is one with the vice president in her desire to deliver a true concern for the teachers and Filipino youth.
“Kilala ko siya noon pang nagsimula siya sa serbisyo publiko at hanggang ngayon ay ipinapamalas niya ang kanyang husay, katatagan, dedikasyon at maprinsipyong pagsisilbi sa bayan. Gaya ng parati naming sinasabi, there is always a time for everything. Ito ang panahon para mas lalong unahin ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan,” Go said.
The senator thanked the vice president for her service in the education department.
“Maraming salamat po, Ma’am VP Inday Sara, sa inyong pagseserbisyo bilang Secretary of Education, sa patuloy mong pagsisilbi bilang Pangalawang Pangulo ng bansa, at sa walang tigil na pagmamalasakit sa bawat Pilipino,” he said.
