FILE PHOTOS Senator Bong Go (left) and former NTF-Elcac spokesperson retired Lt. Get Antonio Parlade Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s longtime aide and confidant, presidential aspirant Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday denied allegations made by fellow presidential candidate, retired Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. that he was the one pulling the strings and influencing the decision of the Chief Executive.
In a statement sent to reporters, Go said that out of respect to Parlade, he would not argue with him on that point.
“Ayaw ko nang makipagsagutan kay Gen. Parlade dahil nirerespeto ko siya. Sa katunayan, isa rin ako sa nagrekomenda na maging Undersecretary siya,” Go said, referring to Parlade’s appointment as an undersecretary of the National Security Council, where the former spokesperson of NTF-Elcac served as a deputy director-general.
(I don’t want to argue with Gen. Parlade because I respect him. In fact, I was one of those who recommended that he becomes an Undersecretary.)
He added that President Duterte, himself already answered allegations about being controlled by anyone.
“Nasagot na mismo ni Pangulong Duterte na walang nagko-kontrol sa kanya. Siya mismo ang nagsabi na hindi naman sya magiging Pangulo kung pinapaikot lang siya ng ibang tao. Tanging siya ang gumagawa ng kanyang magagandang desisyon at tumutulong lang ako mula pa noon,” Go said.
(President Duterte himself answered that no one has control over him. He himself said that he will not become a president if he’s just being hoodwinked by other people. He is the only one who makes good decisions and I’ve just been helping since.)
In an interview after filing his certificate of candidacy at the Comelec, Parlade claimed there have been “many instances” where Go has been “controlling the decisions” of Duterte, but he did not further elaborate.
The retired general also insinuated that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Army are aware of such arrangement, but Go insisted that he is just providing assistance, being a close confidante of Duterte’s for more than two decades.
“Natural lamang, bilang matagal niya akong assistant ng mahigit dalawang dekada, tumutulong lang ako sa pag-implementa nang tama ng mga desisyon niya na nakakabuti sa bayan. Maraming mga desisyon at isa na rito ay ang pagtaas ng suweldo ng ating mga uniformed personnel na nakabuti sa morale ng lahat ng kasapi ng AFP, PNP (Philippine National Police),BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection), BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) at [Philippine] Coast Guard,” Go said.
(Of course, as a long-time assistant of more than two decades, I am just helping with the implementation to ensure that the decisions are for the good. So many decisions, including the raising of salary of our uniformed personnel, which raised the morale of AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP, and PCG.)
Tanungin natin ang mga kasama nya sa AFP, PNP, etc. Alam nila kung paano ako tumulong na maipatupad ang desisyon na ito ni Pangulong Duterte para sa kapakanan ng mga sundalo, pulis, bumbero at iba pa.
(Let’s ask his fellow personnel at AFP and PNP. They know how I helped President Duterte make this decision which led to the benefit of soldiers, police, firemen, and others.)