MANILA, Philippines – Former presidential aide and now administration senatorial candidate Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday asked his supporters to take down his ‘Malasakit’ posters in government-run hospitals.
Go issued the call after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked him and the Department of Health to take down the posters.
READ: Comelec asks Go to take down ‘Malasakit’ posters
“Paulit ulit ko na po sinabi, tanggalin niyo na po mukha at pangalan ko sa posters at tarps,” Go said in a statement.
“Huwag niyo na po ikabit iyan. Itulong niyo nalang sa mga nangangailangan,” he added.
The senatorial candidate also reminded government employees to “stay neutral” in the conduct of their duties.
“Yan ang utos ng Pangulo. Itago niyo nalang sa puso ninyo sino tingin ninyo dapat magserbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino,” he said.
The Malasakit Center is a program of the Duterte administration to establish one-stop shops in selected government hospitals to fast track the delivery of free medical services to the poor.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly credited Go as the one who conceptualized the Malasakit Centers.
In a tweet on Sunday, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that the polling body has sent notices to all candidates who have illegal posters.
She said Comelec has also asked DOH to remove posters of Malasakit Centers in government hospitals.
We @COMELEC sent notices to all candidates that have illegal posters , all LAHAT. We requested @DOHgovph to remove posters n Malasakit centers govt hospitals https://t.co/LxTKS0xLQQ
— Rowena V. Guanzon (@commrguanzon) March 23, 2019
For his part, Go said that his campaign will be fair and would follow election laws.
“Paalala sa supporters ko, lalaban tayo ng patas at naaayon sa batas,” Go said.
“Kung may nakikita kayong materyales na nakakabit sa lugar na bawal pagkabitan, magtulungan tayong tanggalin,” he added. / gsg