Gordon: Bong Go may face Senate ethics panel probe over alleged links to Lao

Senator Bong Go may face a Senate ethics panel investigation for his supposed links to a former Department of Budget and Management official being tagged to the alleged overpricing of pandemic supplies, Senator Richard Gordon said Tuesday.

“Ang sabi ko, it may lead to that [investigation]. So I asked my fellow senators, ‘Ano ba sa tingin niyo?’ When push comes to shove, we may have to ask,” Gordon, chairman of the blue ribbon committee, said in a virtual interview with reporters.

(What I’ve said is that it may lead to an investigation. So I asked my fellow senators, ‘What do you think about this?’ When push comes to shove, we may have to ask.)

“Ayoko mag-imbestiga ng kasama natin but we have to. Kung aabot doon, we may have to investigate… that will go to the ethics committee at the very least,” he added.

(I don’t want to investigate a colleague but we have to. If it will lead to that, then we may have to investigate. That will go to the ethics committee at the very least.)

Go is set to deliver a privilege speech in answer to Gordon on Tuesday afternoon.

Not the first time

Gordon explained that this is not the first time that an incumbent senator will be investigated by his colleagues, citing previous cases involving former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

“‘Yun lang maliit na ‘yon na ethics na siya. E lalo na ito malalaking pera, ang sabi ko pag umabot sa posisyon na ‘yan and it may go to the ethics,” he said.

(The previous issues are just small matters. But this involves big amounts of money. That’s why I have said, when it reaches that position, it may go to the ethics.)

Gordon was referring to the multi-billion peso contract that the Procurement Service of the DBM awarded to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, a small firm with a paid-up capital of around P650,000, for the procurement of pandemic supplies including face masks.

Christopher Lao

The contract was awarded to the company last year during the stint of former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao.

Lao allegedly worked as Go’s aide although this was denied by Go. Go, however, said Lao was a volunteer election lawyer during Duterte's presidential campaign in 2016.

So far, four senators are supportive of the possible probe against Go, Gordon said.

Ties with Duterte

Gordon also said Go should explain why he did not defend the chamber after Duterte criticized it for investigating the alleged overpricing of pandemic supplies.

“Senator Go should explain. Malapit ka sa presidente, you are occupying practically a position de facto na hanggang ngayon you are still running Malacañang so to speak. Bakit di mo dini-defend ang Senado sa presidente?” Gordon said.

(Senator Go should explain. He is close to the president, you are occupying practically a position de facto until now. You are still running Malacañang so to speak. How come you did not defend the Senate to the president?)

“The question na dapat maintindihan dito, ano ba talaga ng role ni Bong Go?  Is he working with the Senate or is he still working with the President? Because we’re not a parliamentary system of government,” he added.

(The question that we need to understand here is, what is really the role of Bong Go? Is he working with the Senate or is he still working with the President? Because we’re not a parliamentary system of government.)

Go, he said, should also have taken the initiative to present Lao before the Senate when the latter’s name has floated during the first day of the inquiry.

“Kasi yun ang dapat na sinabi ni Bong Go sa presidente, in that sense he did a disservice to the presdent. ‘Sir, iniimbestiga yan. Tawagin na natin ito si Lao at iharap natin sila.’  Wala e hinanap pa namin sinubpoena pa namin,” Gordon pointed out.

(Go should have told the president “Sir, they are investigating him. Let us call Lao and present it to them.’ But what happened? We have to find Lao and issue a subpoena to him. In that sense, he did a disservice to the president.)

“I don’t know why the president should lose his cool. [Is it] because Lao is being investigated? What are we hiding here?” he asked.

Asked why there’s a possibility that Go may be subject to a Senate ethics panel probe, Gordon said his supposed role in the appointment of several officials, including Lao, is a factor.

“It’s quite obvious na [Presidential Management Staff] is one of the most powerful agencies in the country. It’s quite obvious that these people are his proteges. Na-appoint eh. Ang bibilis ng asenso,” Gordon said.

Gordon also said he doesn’t believe that Go has “no influence over these people.”

“So long as it comes out it will come out. And if it comes out, let the ax falls where they might,” he said.

In the last hearing, Gordon questioned Lao’s appointment to various high-level government posts, raising his ties with Duterte and Go.

From 2016 to late 2018, Go served as Duterte’s special assistant. He resigned from post when he filed his certificate of candidacy for his 2019 senatorial run. --KBK, GMA News