Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized that before any offer of reconciliation between the Duterte and Marcos camps can be considered, efforts must be placed on bringing home former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippines as a show of sincerity from the current administration.
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, following his visit to fire victims in Tondo, Manila, Go stressed that any meaningful dialogue cannot proceed without the elder Duterte’s presence.
“Importante rito ‘yung sinseridad po ng bawat isa. Kung gusto po n’yo ng reconciliation, pabalikin n’yo muna si Tatay Digong dahil s’ya naman po ang dapat kausapin. S’ya ‘yung elder Duterte, s’ya po ‘yung nagserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan noong nakaraang anim na taon,” he said.
Go pointed out that any offer of reconciliation must be approached with sincerity and respect for those involved. He shared his personal view on what should come first in any genuine effort to reconcile.
“Kung meron man po, bilang my personal position or my personal thought on this, importante rito ‘yung sinseridad. Dapat sincere ka sa pag-uusap. At unang hakbang d’yan ay pauwiin si Tatay Digong,” he explained.
“Kung kaya n’yo pong ipadala (sa The Hague) sa loob ng 24 oras si Tatay Digong, alam kong kaya n’yo rin pong ipabalik siya rito sa lalong mabilis na panahon. S’ya po ang dapat kausapin. Paano n’yo kakausapin kung wala s’ya rito?” he added.
Go also expressed deep concern for Duterte’s welfare, and asked the public to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.
“Ginawa n’ya po ang lahat ng sakripisyo ngunit ipinadala n’yo po s’ya roon sa Hague. Kaya po patuloy po akong nananawagan, nakikiusap na ipagdasal po natin ang kanyang kalusugan, ang kanyang kaligtasan, at ang kanyang kalayaan,” he said.
He underscored the emotional weight felt by many Filipinos who continue to long for Duterte’s return. “Marami pong nangungulila, marami pong nalulungkot na mga kababayan nating Pilipino. ‘Yan po ang pinaka first step po para sa akin, pauwiin muna s’ya rito,” he said.
“He is 80 years old na po. D’yan po mag-uumpisa lahat ang pagpapatawad. Alam n’yo, kilala ko si Tatay Digong. Hindi s’ya ‘yung taong vindictive eh,” he added.
Go also reflected on Duterte’s sense of fairness during his presidency, recalling a moment tied to the Panguil Bay Bridge project that had been started under a previous administration.
During a briefing, Duterte was told by the local governor, “Sir, talo ka rito.” But the president, undeterred, responded: “Kahit talo ako d’yan sa lugar na ‘yan, presidente na ako. Presidente ako ng buong Pilipinas—Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, lahat tayo pantay-pantay.”
For Go, the memory exemplifies Duterte’s refusal to politicize governance. “Kaya ganun rin po, nagpapasalamat rin po ako sa mga kababayan natin sa Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao,” he said.
“Tapos na ang eleksyon, panahon na para magtrabaho tayo at magserbisyo po tayo. Inihalal tayo ng mga Pilipino. This is democracy. Pinili tayo ng mga Pilipino. Pagserbisyohan natin ang ating mga kababayan,” he continued.
When asked about the Duterte family’s openness to reconciliation, Go responded cautiously: “Hindi ko po masagot ‘yan. Sabi ko nga I cannot speak on behalf sa pamilya Duterte. Ang akin lang more on personal thought or position po itong akin bilang kasama po at malapit kay Pangulong Duterte sa loob ng dalawang dekada.”
