Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said it is the Filipino people who will ultimately judge the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and that they will do so through the election.
Go was responding to statements made by former President Benigno Aquino III who had urged those who do not like the administration to campaign for the candidates of the opposition in the 2019 midterm elections.
‘‘Hayaan na lang po natin na ang tao ang humusga [Let’s just let the people judge for themselves],’’ Go told broadcaster Erwin Tulfo in a radio interview over Radyo Pilipinas.
‘‘Mararamdaman niyo naman po siguro. Maglakad kayo sa kalye, kung safe po ang inyong mga anak, kung may pagbabago kayong nararamdaman. Hindi na po kailangan ipagmalaki kung ano po ang nagawa ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte. Let the people judge, he said. (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 Duterte administration. Let the people judge.)
He urged the public not to dwell on the negativity of the opposition but on the positive changes President 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.
‘‘In fact, kitang-kita niyo naman kahapon, napakasigla at dalawang oras siya nagsalita kahapon. Inorasan ko nga e, dalawang oras siya nagsalita sa entablado. At nasabi niya lahat,’’ he said. (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 was able to say everything he needs to say.)
Duterte was in Cebu City on Tuesday to speak at a meeting of 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 a comatose state. 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 Senator Antonio Trillanes, who had said that instead of being terminally ill, Duterte would live long because he was the proverbial ‘‘masamang damo (unwanted weed).
’’Ako naniniwala na si Duterte, masamang damo ’yan. Matagal mamamatay ’yan. (I believe that Duterte will not die easily because he is like unwanted weed), Trillanes had said in an interview. Go responded by saying Duterte was not perfect and, like everyone else, makes mistakes.
‘‘Sa sinabi naman ni Senator Trillanes, kung sa tingin niya matagal mamatay, totoo po ‘yun (Regarding what Senator Trillanes said, if he thinks he [President Duterte] will not die easily, he’s right),’’ he said.