Bong Go supporters assemble outside Senate

Supporters of Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go gathered outside the Senate on Monday ahead of his expected appearance on the chamber’s investigation on the Philippine Navy’s P15.7 billion frigate deal.

Go has reportedly intervened in the procurement process of the Navy’s controversial selection of the combat management systems (CMS) supplier, an allegation that he has already denied.

His supporters, who were mostly clad in red and holding placards, claimed to have come from different parts of the country like Dasmariñas in Cavite; Tarlac; Bulacan; and Mindanao.

The gathering of supporters caused traffic in the area as one lane of J.W. Diokno Blvd. had been closed to motorists.

Two make-shift stages were set up in that closed lane.

While they were chanting his name, some of the supporters appeared clueless, however, about the allegations being hurled at Go.

“Basta andito lang kami,” said one of the supporters from Cavite, who introduced himself as Arnel Manoloto, when asked why he was supporting Go.

Asked again why they were in the Senate, Manoloto said: “E ‘yun lang po ang abiso sa amin.”

Another supporter, who claimed to be from Bulacan but was holding a placard which reads “Sec. Bong Go PDP-Pasig City,” could not also say what Go was being accused of.

Asked what they were fighting for, the man, who did not give his name, said: “Marami Ma’am…Suportahan po namin s’ya para sa aming kinabukasan.”

When pressed further, the man directed to what he called their “prime minister,” who later introduced himself as Gen. Rodrigo Fabillion Alhaj of the Sultanate Kingdom Inc.

Alhaj said he and the more than 5,000 members of the group went straight from Mindanao to show their support for Go.

“Ang purpose namin pumunta dito para suportahan talaga namin si Sec. Bong Go, para ipakita namin kay Trililing, kay Trilling na nagpaparatang — na sinugaling po sya, na hindi totoo ‘yung lahat na kanyang mga pagpaparatang sa tao. Mabait na tao (Go) at matulungan sa ating bansa,” he said.

Alhaj, Manoloto and one of the supporters interviewed by INQUIRER.net said they spent their own money to go to the Senate.

“Ma’am sariling gastos ito. Wala kaming hinihingan kung sino dyan sa gobyerno, wala,” Alhaj said.

“Voluntary…May service naman, nag contribution talaga kami,” one supporter from Tarlac said.

Alhaj concluded the interview chanting: “Bong Go! Bong Go! Bong Go-in namin si Trillanes,” apparently referring to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has been openly criticizing the Duterte administration.            /kga