By MB Online
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go denied any hand in the distribution of souvenirs and donations which bore his name and image.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go
(KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Hindi ko alam kung saan nagpapagawa, napupunta, o kung sino-sino ang kanilang binibigyan ng (I don't know where they are manufactured, where they go, or who are the ones being given the) t-shirts, notebooks, relief goods, at kahit (and even) cellphones at sapatos ," Go told ABS-CBN News in a text message.
On Monday, images of customized smartphones bearing caricature images of Go with President Duterte went viral on social media.
The phone, a Cherry Mobile Desire R6 Plus, was packaged in a white box and labeled with the catchphrase “Bong Go na tayo”.
A report from ABS CBN News said that netizens claimed the phones were inside loot bags which were distributed during a meeting of Sangguniang Kabataan officials in the Palace.
SAP Go has addressed rumors of electioneering and called on his supporters to stop using his identity in donations and souvenirs.
"Para po sa mga nagpapamigay nito, salamat po sa pagtulong at pagsuporta pero kung puwede, huwag niyo na po ilagay ang pangalan at mukha ko (To all those who are giving these away, thank you for helping and supporting me, but please do not put my name and image on them)," Go said.
"Huwag niyo na po haluan ng pulitika ang pagtulong kasi hinahaluan lang ng kritiko ng malisya ang kawang-gawa ninyo (Don't mix politics in these because critics also infuse malice into your charitable deeds)," he added.
The recent Social Weather Station survey claimed that Go would place 23rd if the 2019 midterm elections were held between June 15-21 this year.