Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go called on Senator Imee Marcos to mediate in the conflict between her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Vice President Sara Duterte.
“I am also calling on our colleague in the Senate, Senator Imee Marcos, who is our President’s sister and who also considers VP Inday Sara Duterte as her sister, if possible she can mediate for the order of all and for the welfare of every Filipino,” Go said in an interview with the Davao media during his visit in the wake of Dabawenyo golfer Felix “Cassius” Casas at St. Peter Chapels in Toril, Davao City on Saturday.
Go appealed to the senator to take the opportunity to play a role in unifying the country, which according to him is now divided.
“Masyadong divisive po ang nangyayari sa ngayon habang marami pang Pilipino ang naghihirap. I am appealing for reconciliation para makapagtrabaho at makapagserbisyo tayo sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino. Yun po ang inaantay ng Pilipino kung tatanungin niyo po sila. Mas maraming Pilipino ang gusto ng tahimik na buhay, gusto nila na maayos na serbisyo ang matatangap nila mula satin, mula sa gobyerno. Yun lang po ang pakiusap ko,” he said.
Go added that if Sen. Marcos was in unity with the Marcos and Duterte in the Uniteam during the last election, maybe she could have been an instrument for peace and reconciliation.
“Sayang po ang oras. Kaya tayo niluklok dito para magtrabaho. Let us aim for peace. Alang-alang nalang po sa bansa, alang-alang nalang po sa ating mga leaders na nais namang magserbisyo at magtrabaho, alang- alang nalang po sa bawat Pilipino na nais lamang mabuhay nang tahimik,” he said.
Go also appealed for reconciliation among the country’s leaders and to everyone to stop all the violence.
According to him, what Filipinos need today is not controversy and not fighting politics but proper service and concern for fellow Filipinos.
Go also expressed his unwavering support to the vice president saying he already sent a message of support to Duterte in his own capacity.
He said he is ready to help in providing order and solution to the issue being faced by the vice president’s Chief of Staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez.
“Sana ay hindi na po umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon. I am also concerned sa medical condition po ni Atty. Lopez. Unahin muna natin ang kanyang kalusugan bago ang lahat. Karapatan naman po niya iyon. Concerned rin po ako kay VP Sara Duterte — Ma’am, nandirito lang po kami, inyong kapwa Dabawenyo,” he said.
Go also appealed to the legislators of the House of Representatives (HoR) to slow down the execution of the contempt citation and respect the rights of resource persons.
He said the resource persons are now afraid because they are being despised.
“Imbes na maging productive ang resultaay hindi na po, dahil sa takot. Tandaan natin na “in aid of legislation” naman po ito,” he said.
Go urged the lawmakers to go back to the House rules when it comes to investigations in aid of legislation, especially the grounds for citing resource persons in contempt.
“Hindi dapat ito naaabuso. Bilang isang mambabatas at mamamayang Pilipino, nakikiusap po ako: Please stop the harassment. This should be in aid of legislation, not persecution,” he said.
Go also questioned the House’s decision to place Lopez in the correctional facility when she was only a resource person.
Itong kaso ni Atty. Lopez, resource person siya, bakit ilalagay sa correctional facility, eh hindi pa siya akusado ng anumang krimen? Hindi naman siya convicted, resource person lang siya. Sana ay matigil po itong pang-aabuso sa paggamit ng contempt powers. Bilang mambabatas, layunin natin sa mga committee hearings na matanong ang ating mga resource persons para malaman po ang katotohanan in aid of legislation. Paano tayo maka-craft ng bagong batas? Dapat nga ay magtulungan tayo dito,” he said.
Go said there are problems in the country that need to be addressed like the constant increase in commodity prices, lack of food, disasters, problems with peace and order, and even in the West Philippine Sea.
“Habang nag-aaway po ang mga lider ng bansa natin, ang nasasakripisyo po diyan ay mga kababayan natin na ordinaryong Pilipino na gusto lang mabuhay nang tahimik, makakain, at makauwi sa kanilang mga pamamahay nang ligtas. Hindi na po ito healthy para sa mga Pilipinong nag-e-expect sa kanilang mga public servants na magtrabaho at maghatid ng serbisyo,” he said.
