(Eagle News) – Presidential Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go criticized media outlets who wrote that he had intervened in the frigate deal, calling them purveyors of “fake news” and of irresponsible reporting.
Go also dared Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer to publish what really happened in the Senate inquiry on Monday where the presidential assistant insisted on his innocence, as he stressed that he did not intervene in the deal at all.
“Ang pinag-uusapan ngayon ay naging isyu lamang nang maglabas ang Rappler at Inquirer ng fake news at sinabing ako daw ay nakialam. Lahat ng ito ay nagsimula sa isang irresponsible reporting,” Go said to the Senate panel.
Go further said that he was only involved in order to discredit the Duterte administration.
“This is really their intention… to block the implementation of this important security program and ensure that this administration will fail,” he said. “But we will not allow them to win because the truth is on our side,” he added.
“I did not intervene in the acquisition of the two frigates by the DND (Department of National Defense) nor interfered in the selection of its Combat Management System (CMS),” Go said during the hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security on the frigate deal.
Go said Rappler and Inquirer put a malicious twist in their reports, when they said that he intervened in the deal.
-Go dares Rappler and Inquirer –
“I am challenging Rappler and Inquirer to put on their headline tomorrow – ‘Bong Go, innocent and did not intervene.’ Bakit puro intervene, puro bad news,” he said.
“Rappler, sana sumulat naman kayo ng magagandang pangyayari. Nakakatulog pa ba kayo niyan? Para na rin kayong nakapatay ng tao. Makonsensya naman kayo,” Go said during the hearing on Monday, February 19.
The usually silent Go, expressed his dissatisfaction with the alleged disinformation spread by Rappler on its report on the frigate deal.
He said that Rappler did not even ask the Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana about the truth regarding the deal.
Senator Grace Poe said that she understood Go’s sentiments against “fake news”.
“I understand how you feel. Sometimes, all of us are victimized,” she said.
Poe also noted how many cabinet secretaries showed up to express their support for Go during the senate hearing.
“First of all, this is the first time I’ve observed this many secretaries from different departments, save for a budget hearing,” she said.
“Actually, I have long observed your compassion towards our President, not just now, but even before,” she added.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also spoke to defend Go against those who attacked his credibility.
“Ni minsan wala silang narinig na masama na ginawa ni Secretary Bong Go. Each time they would ask assistance from him to facilitate para hindi sila ma-red tape, never humingi si Secretary Bong Go, humingi ng lagay, fixer’s fee, ng porsyento sa negosyo, wala,” said Zubiri.
“He just did his job judiciously, religiously, and he did it well. So all these coming out, I agree, is fake news,” he said.
Zubiri who also hails from Mindanao, vouched for Go’s credibility
“You know, he has characteristics, Mr Chairman, that are sorely lacking in many public officials and public servants: loyalty, humility, and honesty. So I can vouch for his credibility, knowing him for that long. So Secretary, ako’y hindi naniniwala sa fake news na ‘yan,” said Zubiri.
Senator Loren Legarda said she saw nothing wrong with Go’s notes regarding papers forwarded about the frigates for the Philippine Navy.
“I am not prejudging it. I’m just calling a spade a spade. I’ve done my homework, I’ve read all documents, and all I see is this handwritten message and it’s a pro forma request of Secretary that says, ‘Look into it.’ Don’t we all do that?” Legarda noted.
“Mr Chairman, with all due respect, I think we are wasting the time of Secretary Bong Go sitting here because it’s very clear, wala naman siyang kinalaman dito,” she said.
In the end, after the Senate hearing, Go said he was vindicated and that his innocence was proven.
“The truth was revealed at the conclusion of this Senate hearing. I have been vindicated,” he said.