People not critics to judge Duterte

It is up to the Filipino people and not President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief critic to judge the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said yesterday.

Go reacted to statements of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino who urged those who do not like the administration to campaign for the candidates of the opposition in next year’s mid-term elections.

“Let’s just let the people judge for themselves,” Go said on radio.

“I think you feel it. Walk on the streets, see if your children are safe, if there are improvements. We don’t need to boast about the accomplishments of the Duterte administration. Let the people judge,” he said.

He also urged the public not to dwell on the negativity of the opposition but on positive changes Duterte has initiated.

Go also addressed Aquino’s insinuation that the President is not in good health and that Malacañang should issue a medical bulletin to attest to his health.

“In fact, you saw him yesterday, he was very healthy. He delivered a two-hour speech. I timed it, he was on stage for two hours. And he said everything he needed to say,” he said.

Duterte was in Cebu City last Tuesday before the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. In his speech, the President even chided Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison for reporting that he was in comatose.

Go also debunked the allegation by posting a photo and then a live Facebook video feed of the President in obvious good health.

Go also took a jab at Sen. Antonio Trillanes, who had said that instead of being terminally ill, Duterte would live longer because he was the proverbial “masamang damo (unwanted weed).”

“I believe that Duterte will not die easily because he is like an unwanted weed,” Trillanes had said in an interview.

Go said Duterte is not perfect and, like everyone else, makes mistakes.

“Regarding what Senator Trillanes said, if he thinks he [President Duterte] will not die easily, he’s right,” he said.

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) also issued a resolution “strongly urging” Go to run for the Senate in the 2019 mid-term elections.

The group, composed of municipal mayors all over the country, said it had approved the resolution on 13 July 2018 during the Mindanao Island Cluster Conference in Davao City and on 21 August 2018 during the Visayas Island Cluster Conference in Cebu City.

In the resolution, the LMP said mayors who are its members declared “unequivocal support” for Go’s candidacy.

“The Filipino people are in need of public servants with high competence, integrity, sincerity and of known probity to serve and lead this country,” the group said.

For his part, Go expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the mayors’ endorsement.

“I am sincerely thankful to the mayors of the country for their show of support for me. It warms my heart that a lot of people are already showing support even though I have no interest in running,” Go said.

In a statement, League president Ma. Fe Brondial, mayor of Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, said the group believes Go “has all the qualities and qualifications that will make him an effective senator.”

“His sincerity, integrity and competence are qualities that SAP Go has shown in all his years of service to the public both in his official and private capacity,” Brondial said.