IN 2014, President Rodrigo Duterte, then mayor of Davao City declined the nomination of the “World Mayor” award, a biennial award given by the City Mayors Foundation to uplift the profile of mayors and to honor those who have served their communities well.
Similarly, this week, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go refused to receive a National Youth Commission (NYC) commendation recognizing his significant contribution to youth development. “Isa po sa mahalagang bagay na natutunan ko kay Pangulong Duterte ang delicadeza. Nung nasa Davao pa po kami hindi kami mahilig maglagay ng kanyang pangalan sa mga projects,” Go said when asked why he refused to accept the NYC citation.
Go expressed his appreciation to NYC for the recognition but he said that he does not need any praise, or commendation from any organization or agency for doing his job and doing what is expected of a public servant. “Huwag po kayo magpasalamat sa amin. Trabaho po namin ang tumulong. Wala kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong Duterte kung hindi kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.
For the last two decades, Go has served Duterte and his constituents in Davao City while staying in the background, away from the limelight of publicity. He continued his service to Duterte as Special Assistant to the President until he resigned from the post to run for the Senate in the 2019 polls.
“Kung paano po tayo nagtrabaho noon sa Davao, ganito pa rin tayo ngayon,” Go said. “Hindi naman po ako trapo. Hindi ko po kailangan ang anumang papuri para lamang gawin kung ano yung narararapat. Kay Pangulong Duterte ko rin po natutunan na ang tunay na serbisyo ginagawa na hindi na kailangang ipagmalaki pa,” he added.
Duterte had bared earlier that Go earned his trust and confidence, which remained unshaken for over two decades, because his top aide is “extremely honest” and that the latter works tirelessly to accomplish the tasks he was given. “Aaminin ko po, baguhan lang ako sa pulitika. Ang tanging maipagmamalaki ko ay ang 20 years kong dedikasyon sa pagserbisyo ng matapat kay Mayor Duterte at sa kapwa Pilipino,” he said.
Go said that he sees his experience working under Duterte for so long as his strength in understanding and addressing the real problems of ordinary Filipinos. “20 years of experience po sa ehekutibo mula Davao hanggang sa Palasyo. Nakita ko at naramdaman ang pulso ng ordinaryong Pilipino at ito ang nagbibigay sakin ng lakas ng loob na ipaglaban sila at ituloy ang pagbabagong sinimulan ni Pangulong Duterte,” he said.
Go said in recent interviews that he will push for the legislative agenda of the President and will bring the fight for real and genuine change in the Senate. “Kailangan ituloy ang pagbabago na sinimulan ng ating presidente.”
“Kung naayon sa tadhana na maiupo ako sa Senado, marami akong sisilipin na mga batas, yung ibang batas na natutulog; kaya sabi ko mas kapa ko at alam ko ang nangyayari sa baba. Nasa executive ako for the past 20 years. Ramdam ko kung ano yung totoong napapatupad na batas. Akin itong sisilipin at i-improve kung sakaling palarin maging senador,” he said in past interviews.
As SAP, Go’s experience in serving poor people seeking assistance from then Davao Mayor Duterte gave rise to the idea of Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop bringing together in one room all concerned government agencies like the DOH, DSWD, PCSO, PAGCOR, and Philhealth. The center made it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail themselves of medical and financial assistance from the government.
Go had also played a role behind the scenes in the approval of several crucial legislative measures, including the increase in the salary of the police, the military and other uniformed personnel. “Sabi sa akin ni Pangulong Duterte: Bong kausapin mo yung mga senador. Kung hindi nila dodoblehin ang sweldo ng mga pulis, magreresign ako. Ganun po si Pangulong Duterte, pag sinabi niya ginagawa niya. Iyon rin ang pinaka-importanteng natutunan ko sa kanya,” he recalled.
The NYC resolution that Go had refused also cited Go’s calls for the proper implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act “that greatly benefited millions of in-school youth across the country.”
In November last year, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner has also credited Go for helping improve the agency’s practices to minimize offloading incidents, especially those involving Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). And despite having to continue assisting President Duterte even as a private citizen at no cost to government, Go still finds time to visit fire victims to personally learn of their situation and give help as much as he can.
“Kahit nasaan po kayo, kahit masikip na eskinita, papasukin ko para mapuntahan kayo, hanggang kaya ng katawan ko,” Go had vowed in an earlier visit to fire victims.
In a radio interview, Go noted that oftentimes he would barely have time to sleep because of his advocacy to help victims of tragedies. “Alam niyo ang pagseserbisyo sa kapwa ay ‘yun po ang aking lakas, ang ibig ko sabihin nakikita ko ang kapwa ko na nakakatulong tayo ay nakakawala po ng pagod,” Go said.
In running for the Senate, Go vowed to continue serving the Filipino people the way he learned from his mentor President Duterte. “Sabi ni Mayor sa akin at sa mga ibang na-appoint niya sa gobyerno: do what is right and avoid corruption. Nandito tayo para manilbihan sa tao at mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kabataan. Ito ang rason kung bakit walang tulog ang aming pagserbisyo,” Go said. (Jun Ledesma)
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