Reelectionist Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that while he appreciates Senator Imee Marcos’ initiative to conduct a Senate inquiry into the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, such move is already too late.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ hearing is scheduled on Thursday, March 20.
“Karapatan naman niya ‘yan bilang chairperson ng (committee on) foreign relations. At ako bilang miyembro, sinasabi ko lang din po ang aking mga hinanakit na parang too late na po. Ayan ang tinatawag na ‘too late the hero’ na po (It’s her right as chairperson of the foreign relations committee. And as a member, all I can say is my regret that it seems too late already. That’s what you call too late the hero),” Go told reporters in an interview Wednesday, March 19.
Go, Duterte’s former special assistant, doubts that the Senate probe would do anything to help bring back the former leader to the Philippines.
“Maibabalik pa po ba si Tatay Digong dito? Kung maibabalik po, kahit araw-araw tayo mag-hearing (Can Duterte be returned here? If that is the case, we can hold the hearing even every day),” he pointed out.
According to Marcos, who is also running for reelection for the upcoming May 2025 polls, there is a need to clarify the extent of the Philippine government’s cooperation with international law enforcement agencies.
Go said he acknowledge though that the Senate inquiry may look into questions surrounding Duterte’s arrest and if the arrest was legal or not.
“But too late the hero na po. Tapos na. Maibabalik n’yo pa ba si Tatay Digong dito (It’s done. Could they bring back Duterte here)?” he asked.