Bong Go shirts given during Liga ng mga Barangay convention, Alejano says

Opposition senatorial candidate Gary Alejano on Tuesday alleged that former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go is using public funds for his Senate bid in the May 13 elections.

Alejano, a former party-list lawmaker, said polo shirts printed with Go's name were included in the kits given to attendees of the 1st Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas National Assembly on February 25 to 27.

He said barangay captains who attended the event were shocked after seeing that the polo shirt included in their kit contained Go's name.

Photo courtesy of Alejano staff

Alejano said the registration fee and other expenses of the attendees of convention were charged from local funds as per the Department of the Interior and Local Government's Circular 2019-23.

The registration fee, according to the document Alejano presented, ranges from P13,800 to P19,800. This amount, he said, covers the expenses of the attendees, including the kit that contained the polo shirts.

Alejano said this is a clear election offense.

"Ang panawagan ko ay tigilan na ni Bong Go ang pag gamit sa mga Kapitan at pondo ng gobyerno para sa personal niyang kampanya. Ito ay maliwanag na isang election offense," he said.

Go, however, said he has no idea about the polo shirts that have his name on them, and that the organizers of the event should be the ones to explain it.

"Wala po kaming kinalaman sa sinasabing ipinamigay na souvenirs sa isang pagpupulong ng barangay officials," he said.

He reminded his supporters not to use his name without his consent.

At the same, Go told his former colleagues in the government that their priority should be public service.

"Prayoridad natin ang magserbisyo sa kapwa kung kaya't ibinilin ni Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte na huwag na po kayo mangampanya o makisali pa sa pulitika," he said.

"Itago niyo nalang sa puso ninyo kung sino gusto ninyong suportahan," he added. —KBK, GMA News