Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said critics who continue to disbelieve the Duterte administration’s efforts to pursue peace and order in Mindanao should just go to the region and “see it for themselves.”

“Pumunta na lang kayo rito at kayo na lang po ang humusga (Just come here and judge it),” Go said in a recent interview in Davao Oriental.

“See for yourself. Noong panahon na ni Pangulong Duterte, bagama’t hindi naman po perpekto ito, pero napatunayan naman po na halos nakakamtan po natin ang kapayapaan dito sa Mindanao (In the time of President Duterte, even though its not perfect, but we can prove that we are able to achieve peace in Mindanao),” Go further said.

Go’s statement was in response to journalist Raissa Robles' recent tweet criticizing the Department of Tourism's (DOT) plan to develop Mindanao as a tourist spot.

The senator, however, said that while some challenges remain, the Duterte administration has considerably improved the state of peace and order in Mindanao and throughout the country.

“Insurgency, nasa mababa na talaga ang numero. Marahil mayroong mga pumutok pero mas nababawasan dahil talagang pinagsikapan po ni Pangulong Duterte. Kung hindi niya tinapos ‘yung giyera sa Marawi marahil po’y delikado tayo, mas marami pong mga masasamang elemento ang nakakalat (the number of insurgency has gone down. There may have been incidences that cropped up but it was lessened because President Duterte made every effort to sto it. If he didn’t finish the war in Marawi, maybe we are still in danger, and more rouge elements would be out there),” he added.

He also said that despite the ongoing pandemic, the Duterte administration made every effort to continue resolving local conflicts and address core causes of insurgencies like hunger and poverty.

Go also said that Mindanaoans are proud with Duterte’s achievement to improve the peace and security situation in the region.

“Kami pong mga taga-Mindanao proud po kami bilang Mindanaoan dahil po sa ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte ang lahat. Nakakalakad tayo sa gabi na hindi tayo takot. Wala tayong pangamba (We, Mindanaoans, are proud to be from Mindanao because of what President Duterte had achieved. We can roam the streets at night without being scared. We have no worries),” described the senator.

“'Yung mga issue na rampant daw ang kidnapping sa Mindanao, hindi po ako naniniwala sa ganon. Pumunta na lang kayo rito at kayo na lang po ang humusga (Allegations of rampant kidnapping incident in Mindanao, I don’t believe it. Just come here and see for yourself),” he reiterated.