Cayetano comes to Go’s defense on donation claims

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano defended Senator Bong Go over allegations that medical supplies and equipment donations were centralized so that it would be the senator who would give them away to beneficiaries.

In a Facebook live Thursday night, Cayetano was discussing about spread of misinformation when he touched on allegations involving Go.

The allegations surfaced on social media following the release of Administrative Order no. 27 which establishes a framework wherein medical donations to the government and the Department of Health (DOH) amid the pandemic will be coordinated and transmitted to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) for consolidation.

“Another example po ‘yung pinalabas na kaya centralized ‘yung donations sa gobyerno, para si Bong Go raw, siya ang puwedeng magpamigay. You know, it’s very unfair po kay Sen. Bong Go because he such a hardworker,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano said that before the quarantine was imposed, Go would go around areas razed by fire to extend help before going to Senate to attend sessions and take care of his Senate-related tasks.

Go would then go to Palace “to take care of the President,” Cayetano said.

“Madalas ko sabihin, nagpahinga ka ba? Mistah ang tawag ko sa kanya kasi magka-batch kami na adopted sa PMA, Class 92. Ang sagot lagi ni Bong, yes mistah, dont worry nakatulog ako tatlong oras or apat na oras,” Cayetano said.

“It’s very unfair to people like Bong and any other person whether in the administration or the opposition who is just trying to work hard and then, false ‘yung news and then pi-pick up-in ng media,” the House Speaker added.

Cayetano then called on the media for a possible need to have a different framework during times of national crisis.

“The media is coming together so baka we can also come together in verifying news reports kasi nauna ka nga, peke naman ‘yung news mo, mali naman, and especially if it causes harm,” Cayetano said.

Go has denied allegations circulating online that he is controlling and claiming credit for donations to the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Let me state this in very clear and unmistakable language: Claims circulating that I am involved in handling donations intended for the government are utterly false, deliberate disinformation, and black propaganda,” Go said.

EDV