It is the Filipino people who should judge the legacy of President Rodrigo Duterte as the latter is set to deliver his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26, Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go on Thursday, July 1, said.

Go, a staunch ally of the President, made the remarks during his visit to Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) members in Caloocan City on Wednesday, June 30, where he shared some of the policies and accomplishments of the Duterte administration which improved the country’s efforts towards providing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos.

“You know, he promised to fight corruption in government, criminality and illegal drugs...it is really difficult to totally end illegal drugs but the President really did his best to stop it),” Go said in the national language.

“Let the people be the judge. Tanungin n’yo ang inyong mga anak, yung mga OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), tanungin n'yo ang mga anak nila... Nakakauwi na ba sila nang ‘di nababastos? Kayo na po ang humusga sa ginawa ng Pangulo. Yung ginawa n’ya pong pagsa-sakripisyo, sinugal n’ya po ang kanyang buhay para sa ating mga anak, sa next generation po (Ask your children, the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), ask their children...have they gone home without being harassed? Let yourselves be the judge on what the President has accomplished. His sacrifices, he gambled his own life for our own children, for the next generation),” he added.

Without delving into details about Duterte’s legacy, Go emphasized that the President implemented important infrastructure projects in the country through his “Build, Build, Build” program.

Go, former Special Assistant to President Duterte, also cited the decreasing crime rate in the Philippines and the improving traffic situation in the country's roads.

“Kung mga proyekto naman po ang pag-uusapan, makikita n'yo naman po ang Build, Build Build, nandiyan po. Crime rate, bumaba, kaso ng mga durugista, mas kumonti, bagama't marami ang namamatay dahil nakikipagpatayan sila. Eh, kapag pumasok kayo sa droga, alam n'yong ang isang paa n'yo, nasa hukay na. Pumasok kayo sa droga, sugal n'yo na po 'yun (If we speak of projects, you can see the Build, Build Build, it is there. Crime rate has gone down, lesser drug addicts though several have died because they engaged in firefights. If you involve yourself in drugs, you know that one of your legs is already in the grave. You went into drugs, it’s your gamble) ," said Go.

“Sa accomplishment po, napakarami na po, (tulad sa) transportation. In fact, bukas po magbubukas ang bagong linya ng LRT d'yan sa Antipolo (Regarding accomplishment, there are already a lot of them such as transportation. In fact, the new line of LRT will open tomorrow in Antipolo),” he added.

Go stated that it is the common man who can see and feel the changes brought by the Duterte Administration.

‘’So it is only right that they be the judge whether or not the President has accomplished his promise of providing positive change in the lives of Filipinos,’’ he pointed out.

“Hayaan na natin sila humusga (let them be the judge). Marami na pong nagawa ang ating mahal na Pangulo, National ID, Ease of Doing Business, strong telco sector... health natin, libre po... ang ating universal healthcare. Meron na rin po kayong Malasakit Centers na isa sa ating isinulong. Ako naman po, meron na tayong National Academy of Sports, isang eskwelahan po na pwede nang mag-aral at magtraining ang ating kabataan at the same time (Our beloved President has already done a lot, such as the National ID, Ease of Doing Business, strong telecom sector... our health, it’s free...our universal healthcare. You also have the Malasakit Centers which is one of those that we have pushed. In my case, we have the National Academy of Sports, a school where our youth can study and train at the same time),” he said.

“Marami na pong nagawa ang ating mahal na Pangulo. Asahan n'yo po hanggang sa huling araw ng kanyang termino ay gagawin nya ang lahat. Ito pa, free tuition po sa college. Alam n'yo naman po 'yun na importante po 'yun sa ating mga estudyante, sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap. Sa peace naman po, na-achieve natin ang peace sa Mindanao, itong BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Law, naipasa, ginagawa po lahat ng ating gobyerno (Our beloved President has already done so much. Expect him to do more up to the last day of his term. Here is another one, free tuition in college which is very important to our students, to our poor countrymen. On peace , we have already achieved the peace in Mindanao, the passage of the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Law, our government is doing everything),” Go added.

According to Go, some of the major accomplishments of the Duterte Administration include the significant drop in crime rate throughout the country; the implementation and construction of big-ticket infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build Program; the reduction of poverty incidence among Filipinos; programs and policies which stimulated the economy to grow above 6% before the pandemic; tax reform to address inequality; improving ease of doing business in the country, among others.

Moreover, Go assured the public that President Duterte will continue to work double time to accomplish all of his plans for the benefit of the Filipino people until the end of his term.