Photo Courtesy: Senator Bong Go facebook page
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go has co-authored Senate Bill No. 783, which disqualifies relatives of public officials within the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity in all government contracts.
“Ang panukalang ito ay layong ipagbawal na pumasok sa anumang kontrata ng gobyerno, mula national level hanggang sa local government unit level, ng mga kamag-anak ng gobyerno hanggang sa fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity,” Go announced.
SBN 783, filed by Senate President Francis Escudero, is framed as an anti-conflict-of-interest measure that builds on the newly enacted Republic Act No. 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act.
It covers transactions for supplies, infrastructure, joint ventures, and public-private partnerships, with narrow carve-outs for engagements deemed highly technical, proprietary, or confidential.
For Go, this proposed measure is aligned with his life-long belief that ‘delicadeza’ must always apply in public service. He said he has consistently kept a clear boundary between his public service and family matters, highlighting that he never allowed relatives to take advantage of his position.
“Kahit sino ang tanungin ninyo, mula pa noong sa Davao City pa lang ako nagtatrabaho hanggang ngayon, hindi nakakalapit ang mga kamag-anak ko sa akin—kahit sarili kong tatay at half-brother—para ilakad ang anumang kontrata sa gobyerno. Nag-warning na ako noon: ang sinumang gagamit sa pangalan ko, consider it denied na,” Go declared.
While his family’s business had existed long before he entered politics, Go stressed that none of his relatives ever benefited from his position in government.
“Uulitin ko ang sinabi ko noon: for the record, wala pa ako sa mundong ito ay meron nang lehitimo at maayos na negosyo ang aking pamilya. Pero ni minsan, ni piso, hindi nakinabang ang aking pamilya sa pagiging taong gobyerno ko,” Go said.
Go has earlier dismissed renewed allegations linking him to supposed benefits from his family’s construction business, emphasizing that these issues are recycled, malicious, and long discredited.
Go categorically said: “Malinis ang konsensya ko because I observe delicadeza noon pa man hanggang sa ngayon. Para sa isang simpleng probinsyanong katulad ko, iniingatan ko talaga ang pangalan ko.”
