Bong Go calls Espenido testimony malicious, slanderous

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go —Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go dismissed Police Col. Jovie Espenido’s exposé, calling it a mere attempt to politicize and taint his name.

Espinido, during the hearing of the House of Representatives’ quad-committee on Wednesday, said he was informed that money from Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), small town lottery, and intelligence funds were used to reward police officers who took part in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal drug war.

He likewise bared that the money from Pogos was channeled through Go, a close friend to Duterte.

READ: Espenido told: Pogo money used to reward anti-drug units

“Si Jovie Espenido na mismo ang umamin noong hearing sa House na wala siyang direktang impormasyon o ebidensya na makapagsasabi na may kaugnayan ako sa anumang Pogo drug war links. In other words, hearsay lamang ang isinaad niya kaya nakapagtataka kung bakit naging parte pa ng kanyang affidavit ang aking pangalan (Jovie Espenido himself admitted during the House’s hearing that he had no direct information or evidence to say that I was related to any Pogo-drug war links. In other words, he stated only hearsay, so it is surprising why my name was even part of his affidavit.),” said Go.

The senator said he never handled any funds related to the drug war and Pogo when he was Duterte’s special assistant.

“Huwag na sana nilang piliting iugnay sa akin ang mga bagay na wala namang katotohanan. Malisyoso ito at paninirang puri. At hindi ako mag-aalinlangan na gawin ang anumang legal na hakbang laban sa mga nangdadawit sa akin upang protektahan ang aking pangalan (I hope they don’t try to associate things with me that have no truth. It is malicious and slanderous. And I will not hesitate to take any legal action against those who implicate me to protect my name.),” he said.