Bong Go slams U.S. senators anew for 'meddling;' says let's wait for PRRD's decision on VFA
By Mario Casayuran
Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go has slammed U.S. anew senators for their meddling in the Philippine judicial system.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Senator Bong Go's Official Facebook Page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"'Yung ibang senador diyan, nanghihimasok sa judicial system. 'Wag kayo pakialamero. Insulto po ang ginawa nila,’’ Go said. (There are senators who meddle in the judicial system. Don’t meddle. What you did is an insult.)
Go was referring to the threat of some U.S. senators to block the entry into the U.S. of Philippine officials who had a hand in the alleged illegal detention of Philippine senator Leila de Lima.
The U.S. senators’ threat and the formal cancellation of the U.S. visa of Go’s colleague, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, triggered President Duterte's threat to unilaterally abrogate the 21-year-old RP-U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
There are signals from Malacañang that Duterte has directed Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to transmit the Philippine formal notice to abrogate the VFA.
Asked if there are such signals, Go said he is not the President's spokesman.
"Irerespeto ko ang magiging desisyon ng mahal na Pangulo. Antayin natin ang update sa Pangulo kung aatasan na nya ang DFA kung ipapadala na ang notice,’’ Go said in a DWIZ radio interview. (I will respect the President’s decision. Let's just wait for an update from the President if he will instruct the DFA to transmit the abrogation notice.)
Go said there is no persecution in the case of De Lima, who has been detained for more than two years at Camp Crame on alleged illegal drugs-related charges at Camp Crame, for which she is under trial.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Senator Bong Go's Official Facebook Page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"'Yung ibang senador diyan, nanghihimasok sa judicial system. 'Wag kayo pakialamero. Insulto po ang ginawa nila,’’ Go said. (There are senators who meddle in the judicial system. Don’t meddle. What you did is an insult.)
Go was referring to the threat of some U.S. senators to block the entry into the U.S. of Philippine officials who had a hand in the alleged illegal detention of Philippine senator Leila de Lima.
The U.S. senators’ threat and the formal cancellation of the U.S. visa of Go’s colleague, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, triggered President Duterte's threat to unilaterally abrogate the 21-year-old RP-U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
There are signals from Malacañang that Duterte has directed Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to transmit the Philippine formal notice to abrogate the VFA.
Asked if there are such signals, Go said he is not the President's spokesman.
"Irerespeto ko ang magiging desisyon ng mahal na Pangulo. Antayin natin ang update sa Pangulo kung aatasan na nya ang DFA kung ipapadala na ang notice,’’ Go said in a DWIZ radio interview. (I will respect the President’s decision. Let's just wait for an update from the President if he will instruct the DFA to transmit the abrogation notice.)
Go said there is no persecution in the case of De Lima, who has been detained for more than two years at Camp Crame on alleged illegal drugs-related charges at Camp Crame, for which she is under trial.