President Duterte has categorically said that Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go does not control him.
Duterte made this clarification during his pre-recorded "Talk to the People" public briefing on late Monday night, Nov. 15.
The Chief Executive began his explanation by giving the reason why Go is always present in his weekly evening briefings.
"Nandito rin, attendee si (Among the attendees here are)--of course si ES . And si Senator Bong Go, chairperson ng (of)...kailangan ko si Bong actually. Hindi sa lahat (I need Bong Go. Not with everything)," Duterte said.
"Because Bong is the chairperson sa Senate Committee on Health and Demography. Health kanya eh. So mabuti na siya nandito (Health is under him. So it's good that he is here)," the President noted.
"But he does not control anybody, he does not control me. He is here to do his duty na may matanungan tayo agad. So yun (so that I'll have someone I can ask questions to immediately. So there)," he stressed.
The taped briefing then went into a noticeable jump cut.
Earlier that day, former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. quit his post as undersecretary and filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for president in the May 2022 polls via the substitution route.
But what was more shocking than Parlade's decision to run were the comments he made about Go, Duterte’s longtime aide and friend.
"I just don’t like the way he does things, including controlling the decisions of the President," the retired military general was quoted as saying. Go has denied this accusation.
Over the weekend, Go substituted for Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa as the standard-bearer or presidential bet of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Duterte didn't mention Parlade during that particular portion of Monday's briefing.