Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should become an opportunity for the truth to finally come out, and for lies to be revealed.
Speaking in an ambush interview at the Senate on Monday, May 18, Go said the mandate of senators sitting as judges in the impeachment court is clear: hear the case, remain impartial, and decide based on evidence, the law, and the truth.
“Dapat maging impartial kami. So Senator-judges po kami. Ito naman po yung inaantay ng karamihan, na mag-convene. So mandato po namin na gampanan po ang aming tungkulin bilang senator-judge,” Go said.
He said the duty applies regardless of political alignment, stressing that senators must act according to their role in the proceedings.
“Whether Duterte bloc or anumang bloc po yan, Pilipino po kami dapat gampanan namin ang aming tungkulin. At ako naman magiging impartial po ako,” he added.
Go explicitly stated that he will not hesitate to call out perjury or fabricated evidence once the formal presentation begins, referencing questionable testimonies observed during prior congressional hearings.
”So kung mayroon akong makitang sinungaling—kaya nga hindi ako nagsalita noong mga nakaraang araw—kung may makita akong sinungaling diyan sa ipiniprisinta ay sasabihin ko sinungaling ‘yan,” Go warned.
Pointing over his shoulder toward the Senate plenary chamber, Go stated that the trial provides the perfect mechanisms for rigorous cross-examination that earlier panel hearings lacked.
”Ito na ‘yung pagkakataon natin, ito na ‘yung pagkakataon natin na dapat ilabas po ‘yung katotohanan. Marami tayong nakikita sa paglilitis noon, ‘yung sa kanilang hearing e may mga nakita tayong sinungaling, dito natin tatanungin. Ito na ‘yung pagkakataon kong makapagtanong at makapagdesisyon.”
Go stressed that the impeachment trial should serve as the proper venue for the truth to come out, including the statements and narratives that senator-judges may find questionable once the proceedings begin.
“Dapat lumabas ang katotohanan at lumabas ang mga kasinungalingan para makapaghusga nang maayos ang Pilipino.”
Meanwhile, Go also invoked the mandate given to him by voters, saying he would not waste the trust placed in him by millions of Filipinos.
“Inihalal po ako ng 27 million Filipinos, pinagkatiwalaan po tayo ng 27 million Filipinos so hindi ko sasayangin yon. Yon yung inaabangan ng Pilipino rito, yung katotohanan,” he said.
He also said he would directly call out falsehoods if they emerge during the trial.
“So kung mayroon akong makitang sinungaling, kaya nga hindi ako nagsalita noong mga nakaraang araw, kung may makita akong sinungaling diyan sa ipinipresenta ay sasabihin ko sinungaling yan,” Go said.
For Go, the impeachment court would give senators the proper forum to ask questions and examine what was presented in earlier proceedings.
He added that the trial would allow him to perform the dual responsibility of questioning and deciding as a senator-judge.
“Ito na yung pagkakataon kong makapagtanong at makapagdesisyon,” Go said.
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18 for the trial of Vice President Duterte, with senators taking their oaths as senator-judges.
