FORMER SPECIAL Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go yesterday called for national unity amid a grenade attack on a mosque in Zamboanga City on Wednesday which came on the heels of the bombing of a Catholic Church in Jolo, Sulu.
Two people were killed while 4 others were injured in a grenade attack early Wednesday morning on a mosque in Sitio Logoy Diutay, Barangay Talon-talon, Zamboanga City. On Sunday, twin explosions rocked the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, leaving 21 people killed and 100 others hurt.
“Sana’y maging mahinahon tayo sa ganitong pangyayari at magkaisa po,” Go said in a radio interview.
Go also called for support and understanding after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf group and their affiliate Ajang-Ajang group who were allegedly behind the Jolo bomb attack. “Dahil nga po sa nangyari gusto niyang mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga naging biktima. Kaya nga po kailangan nating maging vigilant lalong lalo na po sa islands ng Mindanao. Kaya nga po tayo nasa martial law sa Mindanao hanggang ngayon kasi po andiyan yung threat ng terrorism,” he said.
Earlier, Go had noted that the military and the police have conducted themselves admirably in Mindanao as there were practically no reports of abuses in connection with the implementation of martial law in the region.
Go also reiterated that President Duterte has promised to take care of the needs of the victims of the Jolo blast.
It is unfortunate, according to Go, that the bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga City occurred after the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, meant for a lasting peace in Mindanao which has suffered from decades of conflict. “Yung nangyari kahapon din po talagang nakakalungkot dahil kakatapos nung plebisito sa BOL,” said Go who is a senatorial candidate in the 2019 elections. Go had vowed to support President Duterte’s programs, including the Chief Executive’s peace initiatives.
However, Go said he does not want to speculate on the motives and personalities behind the twin deadly attacks and would rather wait for the authorities to complete their investigation of the two separate incidents. “Hintayin na lang po natin ang mga kapulisan. May imbestigasyon na pong ginagawa ang militar at kapulisan, pati ang NBI. Ayokong pangunahan ang kanilang imbestigasyon,” Go said.
Meanwhile, Go said that among his top priorities in running for the Senate is to improve the delivery of health services in the country. He said this includes the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all provinces and urban centers of the country.
A Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop bringing together in one roof all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO, PAGCOR and Philhealth, to make it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial services of the government.
Go hit on the idea of a Malasakit Center while attending to the needs of people who sought help from then Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. “Sa ngayon po ay meron na tayong 21 Malasakit Centers at meron na pong ready buksan tulad sa Gen. Santos City at sa Surigao City,” Go said.
Aside from health, Go’s legislative agenda covers programs on agriculture, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, housing, education, long-term sports development, anti-corruption, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, creation of a Department of OFW, barangay welfare and improved benefits for senior citizens. (Jun Ledesma)
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