Bong Go on Lascañas’ claims: Duterte never ordered me to do illegal things

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bong Go swore on Thursday that former President Rodrigo Duterte never once ordered him to do anything illegal.

Go’s statement was issued after retired police officer and self-confessed former Davao Death Squad hitman Arturo Lascañas linked the senator to the notorious group.

Lascañas claimed that Go was tasked to obtain the list of Davao Death Squad’s targets.

“Pure lies and fabrications — plain and simple. Walang ganyang order na ibinigay si dating Pangulong Duterte. Even since when he was still the mayor of Davao City, never nagbigay ng ganyang klaseng order si PRRD. Kailanman ay wala siyang inutos sakin na iligal,” Go maintained.

(Pure lies and fabrications — plain and simple. No such order was given by former President Duterte. Even since when he was still the mayor of Davao City, PRRD never gave such an order. He never ordered anything illegal.)

Go, who served as a special assistant to former President Duterte when the latter was still in office, maintained that he never once saw such a list, stressing that he does not follow illegal orders from anyone — whomever they may be.

The senator further downplayed Lascañas’ allegation by saying that it is just a baseless, unproven, and rehashed issue.

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“Kung may katotohanan sa sinabi niya at may tunay na pagkakasala kami, dapat noon may nakasuhan na. Lumang tugtugin na yan, estilo nilang bulok para tapunan ng putik ang iba upang magmukhang malinis sila,” said Go.

(If there is truth in what he said and we have committed real crime, then someone should have already been charged. That’s an old allegation, their rotten style to cover others with mud to make them look clean.)

“I am focused on my work as a senator. I have no other purpose but to serve and help as much as I can to my fellow Filipinos. Let’s just prioritize the interests and welfare of our countrymen over politicking and harming others,” he added in Filipino.

Lascañas, on the other hand,  said he has already submitted his confessions to the International Criminal Court (ICC), adding that its probers have already started conducting its investigations on the killings surrounding Duterte’s “Oplan Tokhang.”