MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Bong Go attested that former President Duterte has not and will never allow illegal activities under his watch during the resumption of the Senate hearing on illegal POGOs last Monday, September 9.
“I am here, not to defend former President Duterte but to tell the truth sa pagkakilala ko po sa kanya, knowing former President Duterte for the longest time when he was still the mayor of Davao, hindi talaga pumapayag ng ilegal ‘yun,” he said before the Senate committee on women investigating the alleged involvement of ex-Bamban town Mayor Alice Guo with illegal offshore gaming operations in her town.
He pleaded to Guo to speak the truth and quit being evasive.
“Marami na pong nadadamay na mga inosente, pati po si former President Duterte ay kinokonekta sa ‘yo,” he said.
“Ayoko na po sanang bigyan ng panahon ang chismis, pero since nandito ka na… mabuti nang klaruhin mo ang iba’t ibang alegasyon.” he said.
In 2021, Duterte officially signed into law a measure imposing additional taxes into POGOs.
He promised that the controversy-hit industry is “clean” of illicit operations but raids revealed the prevalence of tortures, murders, sexual exploitations and various scamming activities within its facilities.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate committee on women earlier said the spotlight could shift from Guo to the former President once Michael Yang, his controversial ex-economic adviser’s links to POGOs are proven.
To contrast the alleged ties being established among Duterte, Yang and POGOs, Go said the former President long warned his ex aide, whose name repeatedly surfaced in congressional hearings for alleged involvement in various criminalities, that he will not allow him to do illegal activities in Davao City.
“Nagnenegosyo ‘yan doon, pumunta early 2000 pa siguro. Nagdala ‘yan ng bayong nagnenegosyo ng mga cellphone. Meron siyang maliit na paninda. Sinabihan niya ‘yan, ‘pag nagnegosyo ka ng ilegal dito, ibabaon kita ng buhay dito,” Go said.
“So ibig sabihin ayaw niya po ng ilegal ni dating pangulong Duterte. Lalo na nung naging Presidente po siya ayaw niya ng ilegal sa kanyang pamumuno. Ako rin po mismo ay saksi dito,” he said.
Go also warned the public not to believe those who are using the former state chief’s name, dragging him into controversies such as POGOs and drugs.
He also said that he was never supportive of operationalizing POGOs in the country even if his big boss legalized the industry during his time.
“At ako po mismo, noon pa, against po ako sa POGO ‘pag apektado na po ang peace and order. For the record, ayoko talaga ng POGO lalo na po ‘pag naghahasik na po sila ng lagim,” he said.
“‘Pag compromised na po ang peace and order, ako po mismo ayaw ko po. I’m against POGO. Matagal ko na pong sinabi ‘yan,” he said.
