Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, during a press conference at the Senate on Thursday, October 16, made it clear that he has nothing to hide and is ready to face any investigation regarding allegations linking him to irregular infrastructure projects and to contractors such as the Discayas.
He emphasized the need to identify and hold accountable the real masterminds, calling on investigative bodies not to let the truth be diverted for political ends.
“I welcome any investigation, let the facts speak for themselves. Wala po akong itinatago, wala po akong kinakatakutan dahil wala akong kasalanan. Hindi ako sangkot sa anumang anomalya. Ang aking sinumpaang tungkulin ay ang maglingkod sa bayan. At hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung tiwalang ibinigay po ng taumbayan sa akin,” the senator declared.
Go made a call to authorities to focus their investigation on the real masterminds. “Sa DPWH, Ombudsman tumbukin n’yo ang mastermind. Sino po ‘yung mga nasa likod nito. Nag-aantay po kami, nag-aantay ang Pilipino na mayroon pong mapanagot… mukhang paatras na ng paatras.”
He made it clear that he stands with the Filipino people in their clamor for accountability. “I am one with the Filipino people in this crusade against corruption. Kasama n’yo po ako rito at hindi po tayo titigil at huwag po tayong pumayag na ilihis po ang katotohanan. Kasi magkakagulo po pag-inilihis po sa katotohanan. Tumbukin n’yo po ‘yung dapat tumbukin. Hanapin n’yo po ‘yung dapat hanapin, ‘yung talagang mga totoong buwaya, ‘yung mastermind talaga…bakit parang iaatras ngayon?”
Go categorically denied any personal or business ties with the Discayas, stressing that his name is being unfairly dragged into the issue. “With all due respect to the Ombudsman, sinusuportahan po natin lahat ng imbestigasyon at isa po ang aking masasabi, I do not know the Discayas. Hindi ko po sila kakilala.”
“In fact, noong hearing noong mga nakaraang buwan dito sa Senado, tinanong ko sila, ang mga Discaya. Tinanong ko sila, mayroon ba kayong joint venture with CLTG? Yes. Tapos na ba? They answered yes. Napapakinabangan na ba? Yes.”
He said that as a senator and member of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, his interest was to ensure accountability should there be irregularities.
“Kung may pagkukulang o pagkakamali, kung anomalous o substandard, panagutin ninyo. Sinabi ko noon, ako mismo ang… willing po akong magkaso. Kasuhan natin ‘yung mga dapat kasuhan kahit kamag-anak ko. I’m willing to be the complainant kung talagang mayroon silang pagkukulang. At kung may pagkukulang ang Discaya, kasuhan n’yo. Wala po akong pakialam. Gusto ko accountability.”
Go also called on the Discayas and other witnesses or contractors to always speak the truth. “And I’m urging the Discayas at lahat ng witnesses, please lang sabihin n’yo ang totoo. Huwag ho kayong pumayag na ilihis po ang isyu mula sa katotohanan. Kawawa ‘yung Pilipino. Tumbukin natin kung ano ‘yung katotohanan. The truth lang po. Yun lang naman po ang pakiusap ko sa inyo na tumbukin po natin ang katotohanan.”
The senator underscored that throughout his career, he has upheld the principle of delicadeza and has never interfered in any government transactions especially involving relatives. He also recalled how, during his time working with former Mayor and then President Rodrigo Duterte, he drew a clear line between public service and family businesses.
“Noong naging mayor siya isa lang po ang ipinakiusap ko noon. Sabi ko, kapag pumasok ‘yung kamag-anak ko sa government transaction sa city hall, I will resign. Pagpumasok sila sa Malacañang noon, I will resign. Dahil I observe delicadeza. Pinapili ko noon – pumasok kayo, aalis ako. Iyan lang po ang puhunan ko rito, uulitin ko, delicadeza.”
Go pointed out that the issue involving the Discayas and construction projects has been repeatedly revived over the years, particularly during election seasons. He noted that the allegations do not prove any wrongdoing on his part and he never benefitted from such transactions even emphasizing that individuals cannot choose who there family members are.
He also criticized attempts to link him to the controversy to obscure the real issues. “Huwag n’yo pong ipahid sa akin ang dumi para kayo ang pumuti. Huwag naman po ganon.”
The senator reaffirmed his call for accountability for those who truly profited from anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects. He expressed support for the efforts of the Inter-Agency Committee on Infrastructure (ICI), concerned departments, and the Ombudsman to pursue the investigation.
“Ang pakiusap ko lang po sa katotohanan lang tayo. Yung lumabas po ‘yung totoo muna. The truth, the truth lang po. Ilabas n’yo po ‘yung katotohanan. Iyan po ang pakiusap ko sa ICI, kay Sec. Vince, at sa lahat po ng nag-iimbestiga. Doon lang po tayo sa katotohanan.”
“Huwag na tayong paikot-ikot pa. Huwag nating ilihis mula sa katotohanan. Huwag n’yo pong lokohin ang Pilipino. Tumbukin po natin ang dapat tumbukin.”
The senator reiterated that he is not a contractor and has no involvement in any joint venture or infrastructure deal. He also acknowledged that his proximity to the former president and his position have made him a target of political attacks and name-dropping. He said some forces are working to distort the truth.
“Expect na hindi lang po ito ang mangyayari. May mga gumagalaw na pwersa para iikot po ‘yung katotohanan para hindi mapanagot ang dapat managot. Nandoon na e, klarong-klaro na dito. Nag-imbestiga na tayo dito sa Blue Ribbon Committee, marami nang lumabas. Ang dami-daming mga kongresista na sila mismo ang contractor… Ako ang layo ko diyan at anong kinalaman ko diyan.”
He repeated his warning against attempts to use this as a diversion. “Uso kasi ‘yan ngayon e, puputikan ka ng itim para sila ang pumuti.”
In closing, the senator expressed confidence that the Filipino people can see through political noise and diversions. “But I trust the people to know the noise. I have stood by them through floods, fires, earthquakes, and a pandemic. I earned trust not through words but through action. Serbisyo po ako at pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit sa Pilipino. At hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung tiwalang ibinigay n’yo po sa akin. I will never walk away from them. Sa katotohanan lang po tayo.”
