Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said in an interview on Saturday (Sept. 4) that the government maintains the right to investigate the financial transactions of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) with any government agency in so far as it involves the use of public funds.
Go said President Rodrigo Duterte, the honorary president of the PRC, is within his rights to request a probe into the annual reports submitted by the organization, including the execution of a multi-million peso memorandum of agreement signed between the PRC and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) at the start of the pandemic for COVID-19 testing.
“Tingnan na lang po, pakisilip na lang po, kung ano ang nakalagay sa batas sa Philippine Red Cross: ‘at the end of every calendar year, submit to the President of the Philippines an annual report containing its activities and showing its financial condition.’ Kasi may mga pondo rin sa Red Cross na mula rin po sa mga government funds nanggagaling. At mayroon din pong gastos ang Red Cross na mula rin po o galing sa Philhealth,” Go explained.
“Ibig sabihin nito, may pondo pa rin ito na mula gobyerno. Ang dapat ay i-account rin po kung ano po ‘yung mga pondong mula sa gobyerno. Ang amin lang po dito, ano po ‘yung totoo at in fairness po sa lahat ng nagtatrabaho,” he added.
When asked about the possible conflict of interest, Go clarified that he only deemed it necessary to point out that the chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Sen. Richard Gordon, who is leading the investigation into the government’s handling of COVID-19 funds, is also the chair of PRC, which has financial engagements with the government. Hence, this could affect the impartiality and credibility of the probe.
“Nasa sa kanya na ‘yon kung bibitawan niya. Personal na desisyon niya ‘yan. Ang nasabi ko lang naman, baka maaaring mayroong conflict of interest dahil it is common knowledge that the chairman of Blue Ribbon Committee is also the chairman of Philippine Red Cross … Tapos ngayon, imbestigahan mo ‘yung PhilHealth … So, may mga katanungan lang na baka magkaroon ng conflict of interest,” he continued.
Go reiterated his deep respect for Sen. Gordon and his other colleagues in the Senate. With regard to the speech he gave at the Senate Session on Aug. 31, Go clarified that he only meant to voice his sentiments at what he felt was a lack of respect for fairness and due process.
“Wala naman akong problema kay Senator Gordon. Sabi ko naman na mataas ang respeto ko sa kanya. Ang hinihingi ko lang naman sa privilege speech ay ganoong respeto rin ang ibigay sa akin, bilang isang senador. Kung ano ang ibinigay na pagkakataon sa iba na makapagsalita, ganon rin sana sa akin. Ituring lang din ako isang senador tulad ng iba,” he said, before adding that his intentions to serve the public at the Senate are genuine.
“Gagawin ko ang lahat. Bagama’t baguhan lang ako sa Senado, matalo man ako sa debate … pantay-pantay kami. Ang ipinagmamalaki ko lang ang pagseserbisyo ko sa ating kapwa Pilipino… Malinis ang aking hangarin. Iyon lang ang pondo ko rito: pagseserbisyo, pangalan, at prinsipiyo,” Go said.
Despite these issues, the senator maintained that he is ready and willing to work with his colleagues to get to the bottom of the issues surrounding the use of COVID-19 funds. As the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, he vowed to continue helping in the government’s pandemic response with strict vigilance to safeguard public funds.
“I will actively participate as I have always been doing. Lalung-lalo na ang pangunahing usapan dito ay paggamit ng pondo for COVID-19 response. Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, interes ko na masiguradong magagamit ng tama ang pondo ng taumbayan at maayos ang dapat ayusin dahil nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya … especially in times of crisis, every single peso counts,” Go stressed.
“Iisa ang aming layunin dito, ang sugpuin ang korapsyon. Sabi ko naman sa kanya (Gordon) labanan natin ang korapsyon. Isa tayo sa paglaban kontra korapsyon. Kapag may mali naman magsasalita ako. Hindi ako natatakot na magsalita … Inihalal din ako ng taumbayan, pareho lang kami na gagawin ang aming trabaho,” he continued.
The senator reaffirmed his and the President’s enduring commitment to the fight against corruption. He stressed that any individual found guilty, regardless of affinities and associations, must be held accountable in accordance with the law. Fairness and due process must be upheld in all these, according to Go.
“Paulit-ulit kong sinasabi noon … napakahalaga ng bawat piso na kaban o pera ng taumbayan. Importante ‘yan sa akin. Nakatutok ako dito at sabi nga namin ni Pangulong Duterte, ‘pag sangkot ka sa korapsyon dapat managot ka. Dapat mapatunayan, ‘pag sangkot ka, kasuhan at ikulong,” Go said.
“Tulungan natin si Pangulong Duterte. Parati naman niyang sinasabi na ‘pag may kasalanan, ikulong natin. Walang pinipili dito, walang pinoproteksyunan. Kung sino ang may kasalanan dapat managot, pero bigyan natin ng due process. Bigyan natin ng pagkakataong sumagot, bigyan natin ng pagkakataon na maipagtanggol naman ang kanyang sarili.” (Office of Sen. Bong Go) – jlo
