SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go called for respect and truthfulness from government institutions, particularly uniformed personnel, amid the conduct of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Speaking during the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ public hearing on Thursday, March 20, Senator Go underscored the importance of integrity in public service especially in law enforcement.
“Mataas po ang aking respeto sa kapulisan, lalo na po sa mga babae. Mataas po ang aking respeto sa kanila. Noong nakaraang administrasyon, nanumbalik ang respeto ng ating mga kababayan sa kapulisan. Taas-noo po ang ating kapulisan, ang ating mga sundalo. At its highest ang respeto sa PNP,” said Senator Go.
He recounted how, under Duterte’s administration, police and military salaries were significantly increased as part of efforts to uplift and empower uniformed personnel. He emphasized that this was a recognition of their sacrifices in maintaining public order.
“Inuna namin ang pagtaas ng sahod ng uniformed personnel dahil alam namin kung ano ang sakripisyo n’yo para sa bayan. Ako mismo, bilang SAP noon, ako po ang nangulit sa Kongreso noon na maisakatuparan ito dahil minahal namin ang kapulisan,” he added.
However, Senator Go lamented the treatment he received from a PNP spokesperson at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) during Duterte’s arrest.
“Ngunit nakakalungkot, Madam Chair, na noong nandun ako sa NAIA, nakikita n’yo naman po sa video, nagtanong lang naman po ako sa PNP spokesperson kung saan kami dapat pumunta dahil sabi ni Chief Marbil sa 250th (in Villamor Airbase) po. Nilapitan ko ang inyong spokesperson at hindi ako sinagot. Tinakbuhan po ako,” he recounted.
He stressed that as a public official following proper procedures, he should have at least been given a response.
“Sana bilang spokesperson, konting sagot lang naman po. Konting respeto. Sumusunod naman po kami sa batas, hindi naman siguro dapat ipagkait sa atin ang respeto at higit sa lahat, ang katotohanan,” he remarked.
Senator Go was pertaining to PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo who also allegedly issued misleading statements to the public, particularly regarding the emotional reactions of police officers captured on video during Duterte’s detention.
“Sa totoo lamang po, ilang beses na po nagsinungaling si now BGen. Fajardo. Sana po, Ma’am, spox, bilang spokesperson, totoo lang ang sabihin mo, alang-alang sa bayan. Your duty is to be loyal to our flag and country,” he stated.
The senator criticized what he described as an attempt to downplay the emotional reaction of some police officers caught on video tearing up as Duterte was taken into custody.
“Sa interview mo, sinabi mo rin na nagpupunas lang ng pawis ang ilang pulis na nakuhanan ng video na umiiyak habang inaaresto si Pangulong Duterte. Mapigilan mo bang umiyak? Nasasaktan po ‘yan,” Senator Go pointed out.
He warned that if misleading statements could be made about an event as publicly scrutinized as Duterte’s arrest, there is a greater possibility that similar misinformation could be fed to the Filipino people in other matters.
“Kung nagawa n’yo ‘yan sa akin magsinungaling, mas nagagawa n’yo ‘yan sa ibang tao. Respeto lamang sana, gaya ng pagrespeto at pagmamahal namin sa uniformed personnel. Pangalawang beses na po ito na hindi ka sumagot ng totoo,” he added.
Senator Go reiterated Duterte’s principle that public servants must always prioritize loyalty to the nation above all else.
“Doon lang dapat tayo sa katotohanan at piliin n’yo laging magsabi ng totoo alang-alang sa bayan. We must always entrust our loyalty to the Filipinos, to our flag, and to our country. ‘Yan naman po ang sinasabi ni dating Pangulong Duterte sa inyo. Just be loyal to our country and to our flag,” he declared.
In his opening statement during the hearing, Senator Go also raised concerns over whether Duterte’s rights and due process were upheld.
“Last, gusto nating malaman kung may nalabag ba na proseso ang pamahalaan. Nabigyan ba po ng due process ang dating Pangulo? Dahil kung seryoso tayo sa pagbibigay ng hustisya, unang konsiderasyon dapat ang karapatang pantao at ang pagsunod sa due process,” he argued.
He pointed out that Duterte was in no condition to flee or evade authorities, making the manner of his arrest even more questionable.
“Sa totoo lamang po, hindi na po tatakbo si Tatay Digong sa inyo. Hindi n’ya na kayang tumakas. Alam n’yo po ‘yon. Hindi n’ya na kaya kayong takbuhan dahil hirap na po siyang lumakad. Nakasungkod na nga lang po siya,” he added.
Senator Go also pointed out the irony of surrendering a Filipino to a foreign court while there have been efforts from the government especially during Duterte’s term to help Overseas Filipinos in distress overcome legal battles abroad and bring them home.
“Imbes na umunlad, bigla tayong umurong. OFWs pinapauwi natin. Noon, ginagawan natin ng paraan. In fact, si dating Pangulong Duterte, sumusulat ‘yan sa mga king o sa lider ng ibang bansa para makauwi. And even nagre-raise tayo ng blood money para makauwi lang ‘yung mga kababayan natin. Pero bakit baliktad ngayon? Bakit isinuko natin ang sarili nating lahi?” he asked.
The Senate hearing, led by Senator Imee Marcos, focused on the circumstances of Duterte’s arrest, with officials from the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the PNP in attendance. Marcos questioned the government’s decision to turn over a former president to a foreign court, citing concerns over due process and national sovereignty.
