Bong Go not the type to ask favors from peers, says lawmaker
Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles on Friday defended Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go from allegations he was behind the reinstatement of a police chief involved in the slay of Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr.
In a statement, Nograles, the chairman of the House appropriations committee, said it is not in the nature of Go to ask for favors because he also does not accept favors from peers.
“Hindi niya magagawa ‘yan. Kilala natin ang pagkatao niya at hindi siya gan’yan,” Nograles said.
(He would not do that. We know his personality and it is not in his nature to do that.)
Nograles is the son of former Speaker Prospero Nograles, the mortal enemy of President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City before they struck an alliance in the 2016 elections.
It was Senator Leila de Lima, the most vocal critic of the administration’s bloody war on drugs, who alleged that it was an open secret Go called up Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to reinstate Supt. Marvin Marcos and his men at the Eastern Visayas regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: De Lima: ‘Bong’ Go called Bato to reinstate Supt. Marcos
Article continues after this advertisementMarcos and his men were involved in a raid at the subprovincial jail in Leyte that killed Espinosa.
Go has denied the allegation as “hearsay” and “unsubstantiated.”
READ: Bong Go: De Lima accusation ‘pure hearsay’
Nograles called Go a decent person who would not ask for favors which are illegal.
“You can ask him for help on things like medical assistance for the poor or other welfare assistance for the needy but never on matters that involve promotions, government assignments and government contracts. It is in the same manner that he does not ask for favors on things that are personal and illegal. Straight na tao ‘yan just like his boss (He’s a decent person like his boss),” Nograles said.
Nograles surmised some groups would want to destabilize the administration amid its war on drugs and criminality.
“These people who are behind attempts to vilify the President are now trying to magnify this issue about CIDG Superintendent Marcos in an effort to malign and sow intrigue among the President’s men. This will not work,” Nograles said.
Kerwin Espinosa, the son of the slain Espinosa and said to be the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, testified before the Senate that Marcos was under his payroll.
Dela Rosa earlier admitted that a “kumpare” (friend) called him up to reinstate Marcos after the latter was sacked when Kerwin named Marcos as a drug protector.
READ: Bato admits ‘kumpare’ asked him to reinstate Supt. Marcos to CIDG
A second relief order was again issued following the killing of Kerwin’s father, and before Kerwin testified before the Senate that Marcos was under his payroll.
Marcos has denied the allegation. He and his men are now under restrictive custody at Camp Crame. IDL/rga
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