MANILA, Philippines — The people behind the video circulating on social media linking senatorial aspirant Christopher “Bong” Go to illegal drugs should file charges if their claims were true, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued this challenge as he dismissed the video as “pure and simple black propaganda.”
“That’s pure and simple black propaganda. It’s so easy to write a story and do a movie or video out of that. Madaling gawin lahat ‘yun eh kung totoo iyun eh di sana nag-file na sila ng mga charges. Wala naman silang fina-file. So ibig sabihin hindi totoo,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
The video titled “Ang Totoong Narco List (The True Narcolist)-Episode 3” claimed that Go, a longtime aide of President Rodrigo Duterte, has four local bank accounts where drug money is allegedly funneled.
The video also alleged that Go uses the codename “TESOROGOLF-TSG-002” and has a dragon tattoo on his back.
Asked if the Palace would urge Go to show his back to disprove the allegation, Panelo said: “You know, who alleges must prove.”
A video titled “Ang Totoong Narcolist (The True Narcolist)-Episode 1” earlier circulated on social media shows a man in hoodie, claiming that presidential son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte received payoffs from a drug syndicate.
READ: Video linking Polong Duterte to drugs ‘black propaganda’
But according to Panelo, the public no longer believes the allegations contained in the viral videos.
“Alam mo hindi papatulan ‘yun. Sinabi na nga ni Mayor Sara, mag-file kayo ng charges kung totoo ‘yang sinasabi n’yo. Ganun din ang sinasabi ng dating vice mayor, madaling gumawa ng istorya,” he said.
“Eh wala namang naniniwala sa kanila,” he added, referring to the people behind the controversial video, which so far garnered a considerable number reactions and shares since it was released on social media in tranches last week. /kga