PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go emphasized that he will continue to serve the public as an elected senator while helping the Duterte administration achieve its goals particularly in delivering public services to the most needy and providing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos as promised by the President.

He maintained that his closeness to President Rodrigo Duterte is a non-issue when it comes to fulfilling his mandate.

In his privilege speech on Tuesday, August 31, Go hit back at fellow senator Richard Gordon who criticized his relationship with the President and his regular appearances beside Duterte. Go said that while Gordon finds it abhorrent that he continues to act like an ”executive assistant” to the president, the latter seems to have no problem with it when asking for favors.

“I noticed that nobody seemed to complain about my proximity to the President when you would have me say something to him or ask him to do something for you. Tatawagan mo po ako, iparating mo kay Pangulo. Noon pa, walang reklamo,” said Go.

“Walang reklamo kapag ginagamit ninyo akong tulay sa ating Pangulo. Kapag hindi pabor sa inyo, pero kapag disadvantageous sa inyo, at ngayong malapit na ang eleksyon, bakit pupunahin ninyo? “ he added.

Go further mentioned that he does not hide his personal relationship with the President and that the Filipino public are aware of this even when he was elected to the Senate. He went on to say that he had never utilized such a connection to get favors for himself.

“'Yung relasyon namin at tiwala namin sa isa't isa, nasa sa amin na iyon, pero tanggap ng taumbayan iyon dahil hindi ko naman iyan itinatago. At noong naihalal akong Senador, hindi ko ikinahiya na ako’y isang simpleng empleyado lang noon na binigyan po ng Panginoon ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino. Hindi ko po sasayangin 'yan,” he said.

“Gayunpaman, kailanman ay hindi ko ito ginamit para sa pansarili kong interes. Palagi kong inuuna ang interes po ng bayan at interes po ng kapwa ko Pilipino,” Go added.

Gordon, during a recent television interview, said that he finds it “abhorrent” for Go to “still act as the EA of the President.”

“May nagsasabi diyan, nagpapaka-EA daw ako. Hindi ko po ikinakahiya 'yan, 1998 pa po ako nagtatrabaho sa kanya. Naging Senador na po ako ngayon, nagpapasalamat po ako kahit na isa lang po akong munting EA po,” said Go.

“Sa mga EA po, huwag kayo mawalan ng pag-asa, baka kayo rin po ay maging Senador pagdating ng panahon. Isa lang po ang natutunan ko na sana po ay matutunan ninyo — mahalin ninyo po ang inyong kapwa Pilipino — malay ninyo kayo rin po ay maging Senador. Hindi ko po ikinakahiya yan. At lalong hindi ko ikinakahiya na umalalay sa Pangulo hanggang ngayon dahil iisa lang po ang layunin namin — magserbisyo po,” Go exclaimed.

Despite helping the executive branch, Go explained that it has had no impact on his work in the Senate, noting that he had perfect attendance in the Congress' second regular session.

“Higit sa lahat, kahit na malapit ako kay Pangulong Duterte, walang conflict sa trabaho ko ‘yan. In fact, I have a perfect attendance in the 2nd Regular Session, 69 out of 69,’ said Go.

“I want the public to know that I value the opportunity and privilege that they have given me to be here,” he added.

Go went on to say that he will not confine himself to the Senate's four corners, noting that a senator's work comprises legislation, representation and constituency services.

“Sabi ko nga, I will not limit myself to work within these halls. Binoto ako ng tao para katawanin sila, paano ko malalaman ano ang kailangan at mga hinaing nila kung nandito lang ako naka-upo,” said Go.

“Hindi ko ugali at hindi ko matiis na nakaupo lang po sa malamig na opisina, pa-relax-relax, nagpapalamig, nag-aantay ng kung sino ang pwedeng imbestigahan, nagpapalaki ng tiyan. Mas gusto ko pong lumapit sa tao dahil sila ang sineserbisyohan ko. Ganito na kami noon pa sa Davao. Siguro po ganito po magserbisyo ang tinatawag nilang mga probinsyano,” he ended. (OSBG)