Senator Christopher “Bong” Go criticized Police Colonel Jovie Espenido’s testimony before the House of Representatives, calling it a form of political maneuvering aimed at implicating former President Rodrigo Duterte in the government’s anti-drug war.
The senator stated that there is no direct information or evidence linking him to the alleged connection between Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and the drug war.
He emphasized that the claims are purely hearsay and questioned why his name was even mentioned in Espenido’s affidavit.
Go firmly denied any involvement with POGOs or the reward system associated with the drug war.
He clarified that during his tenure as Special Assistant to the President, he never handled any funds related to the drug wars or POGOs.
He also pointed out that his colleagues in the Senate can attest that he never accepted money or funds from any external sources since his election in 2019. Go expressed confusion over the attempts to link POGOs to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
He assured that any support provided to the police was done through legal and government-approved means.
The senator urged fellow lawmakers to be discerning in investigations and not to be swayed by mere rumors.