Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go welcomed on Wednesday, Oct. 2 the Philippine National Police's (PNP) plan to re-open the investigation on the 2020 assassination of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga. 

This, as Go clarified that he did not have any knowledge behind the motive of the killing or any related information as claimed by former PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili. 

“Dapat lamang na mabigyan ng hustisya ang kanyang pamilya. Dapat nga noon pa ay nabigyan na ng hustisya iyan. Gayunpaman, mabuti na rin na maimbestigahan ‘yang muli ngayon para mapanagot ang dapat managot,” he said, referring to Barayuga. 

(His family deserves justice. Justice should have been served long ago. Still, it's good to have a re-investigation in order to punish the perpetrators.) 

Go added: “Nais ko ring klaruhin na wala akong alam sa sinasabing motibo sa kanyang pagkamatay o sa anumang impormasyon na mayroon si dating PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili ukol dito." 

(I also want to clarify that I have no knowledge on the alleged motive behind his death or any information that former PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili has on this case.) 

“Senador na ako noong panahon na iyon at nakatutok tayo sa pandemya bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health. Tumutulong ako sa Duterte administration noon sa pagtugon sa mga suliranin ng bansa, ngunit kapag may inilalapit sa akin na mga isyu o report, palagi kong inire-refer ang mga iyon sa kaukulang opisina, ahensya o opisyal. Lalo na kung hindi ko naman trabahong aksyunan ang mga iyon dahil senador ako na may sariling mandato,” he further explained. 

(I was already a senator at that time and I was focused on the pandemic as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health. Back then I helped the Duterte administration respond to the country’s problems, but whenever I'm approached with an issue or report, I always refer it to the appropriate office, agency, or official. Especially if it wasn't my job to respond to it since I was already a senator with my own mandate.) 

As a legislator, Go pointed out that he could not interfere with the process of investigation conducted by the police regarding the incident. 

“Sa totoo lang po, hindi ko rin naman pwedeng pakialaman ang proseso ng ating kapulisan tungkol sa insidente. That is why I take exception sa mga ibinabalita sa media na may alam ako sa motibo ng pagkamatay ng isang tao at wala raw akong ginawa,” he said. 

(The truth is, I cannot meddle with the police process on the incident. That's why I take exception to the media reports that I knew the motive behind a person death and that I did nothing about it.)

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“Please get your facts straight. Doon lang sana tayo sa totoo at tama (Let's stick to what is true and accurate),” he stressed. 

Go underscored that his focus was on fulfilling his mandate as a senator and prioritizing public service especially for Filipinos in need: “Kilala n’yo po ako. Mas gusto kong magtrabaho at magserbisyo lamang sa kapwa ko Pilipino.” 

(You know me. I prefer to work and render service only to my fellow Filipinos.) 

During last week's quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing held at the House of Representatives, Police Lt. Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza, presently assigned with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group (DEG), and his civilian anti-drug “asset” Nelson Mariano both testified that former PCSO general manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo planned and funded the July 30, 2020 assassination of Barayuga.