Bong Go denies involvement in drug war, rewards system

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go FILE PHOTO / Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who was special assistant to then president Rodrigo Duterte, denied any involvement in the operations of the police during the previous administration’s brutal anti-drug campaign.

The senator said in a statement Saturday, “I have no participation whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in the operational requirements of the war on drugs.”

Go was alleged by retired police colonel Royina Garma to have coordinated with National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in setting up a system to give police officers cash incentives for every drug suspect in the drug list killed.

READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH

He added, “Let me be very clear. Walang kinalaman ang aking opisina sa operasyon at organisasyon ng kapulisan. Hindi rin ako mismo humahawak ng pera ng opisina ng Pangulo dahil hindi yan parte ng mga tungkulin ko noon.”

(Let me be very clear. My office had nothing to do with the operation and organization of the police force. I also had no hand in the Office of the President’s finances since that was not part of my mandate before.)

“However, I want to clarify that there was no reward system being implemented before in exchange for anyone’s life,” Go said in Filipino.

At Friday’s House quad committee (quad comm) hearing, Garma told lawmakers that she facilitated meetings between Leonardo and Go until the two men “established direct communications.”

Garma added that Leonardo also reported to Go whenever an individual died in police operations so it could be included in his weekly report and requests to refund operational expenses.

Go strongly encouraged the Senate to conduct an impartial investigation into Garma’s statements, saying they were “clear diversionary tactics to muddle the true issue she is facing, her participation in an alleged murder plot.”

Garma and Leonardo were previously named as masterminds in the 2020 killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

READ: Napolcom’s Leonardo, Garma tagged in killing of PCSO’s Barayuga

Police Lt. Col. Santi Mendoza, in his September 27 quadcom testimony, said Leonardo ordered him to kill Barayuga with Garma’s blessing.

Barayuga was shot dead while stuck in traffic inside his white pick-up vehicle. He was on his way home from the PCSO headquarters in Mandaluyong City in July 2020 when an unidentified assailant on board a motorcycle opened fire.

Go said in Filipino, “It’s saddening that times have changed. Politics are being mixed into investigations and we’re forgetting everything the previous administration did to rid the country of criminality and drugs  for the future of our nation and our children.”

“I always say, the people have a right to know the truth. Let’s stick with what’s true and right. I’d much rather work and serve my fellow Filipinos but if my own name is being smudged, I won’t stand for it,” he added.