Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Photo from his office)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino Pimentel advised neophyte Senator Christopher “Bong” Go to “keep his cool” following the latter’s privilege speech on Tuesday where he slammed critics of Malasakit Centers, particularly Albay 5th District Rep. Edcel Lagman.
“Let me congratulate Senator Bong Go for his privilege speech and then advise him to just keep his cool and relax,” Pimentel said.
“I’m not identifying with the part of his speech where he says that Congressman Lagman can no longer be saved by surgery or cosmetic surgery, I disagree with that portion of the speech,” he added.
READ: Go hits Lagman for questioning Malasakit Centers: ‘Your image is beyond repair’
Lagman earlier described Malasakit Centers as a “partisan tool rather than a medical outlet” as he asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) to provide a legal basis in funding the said health centers.
READ: Lagman to PCSO: Explain funding to Malasakit Centers
Nevertheless, Pimentel expressed support for Go and commended him for the conceptualization of a “one-stop shop” health center.
“Yung malasakit center po ay isang magandang idea, one-stop shop as far as health is concerned and should there be birth pains in such a concept, it is not proper attack or criticize the person who conceptualized the idea,” he said.
“Hindi niya (Go) po kasalanan yun. Dapat nga purihin siya at naisip pa at na-operationalize yung ganyang klaseng idea na one-stop shop for health concerns for our people,” he added.
Meanwhile, fellow administration senators also expressed their support for Go.
“[I will] manifest my malasakit to my kababayan. And support the substance of his privilege speech,” Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said.
For his part, Senator Francis Tolentino said he empathizes with Go’s “feelings.”
“After having heard the privilege speech of my seatmate, I commiserate, I empathize, I sympathize with his feelings right now. Kagaya po ng sinabi ni Senator Pimentel, gumawa ka na nga ng isang konsepto na makakatulong ay, ikaw pa yung sinisira,” he said.
“I’ve seen Senator Bong Go work…Ngayon po yung konsepto niya parang traffic enforcer, tinatraffic niya yung mga iba’t ibang ahensya related to health services para magkaroon ng isang integrated delivery of health services,” he further said.