Cancellation of Bato’s US visa an attack on Duterte —Go

The US government’s cancellation of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa's entry visa is an affront to President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Bong Go said Monday.

Go made the comment after President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement if the US would not restore Dela Rosa's visa.

The VFA is a treaty between the Philippines and the US on joint military exercises between the two countries on Philippine territory.

“May problema talaga ang Amerika dito. ‘Yung pagtira nyo kay Bato, pagtira nyo na rin’yun kay Pangulo," Go told reporters.

"Hindi po yun ang dahilan. Mas malalim pa ang dahilan,” he added, when asked if a selfish reason was behind the planned abrogation of the treaty.

“Kailangan nating malaman kung ano talaga ang dahilan ng pagkansela ng visa ni Bato, kung dahil ba sa extrajudicial killings o dahil ba sa kaso ni Senator [Leila] de Lima,” Go said.

The cancellation of Dela Rosa's US Visa came after the US govt passed a federal budget banning US entry for those involved in the prosecution of Senator Leila de Lima on drug-related charges which the US government has described as unjust prosecution.

Go said De Lima’s trial for two drug related charges should not be taken against Dela Rosa because De Lima’s trial on the said drug-related raps had been ruled legal by the Supreme Court (SC).

“It was upheld by the SC. May kaso naman talaga, so dapat alamin muna ng dalawang senador na ito, sina Senators Durbin at Leahy, alamin muna nila kung ano talaga,” Go said.

Go was referring to Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Durbin, sponsors of Senate Resolution 142 recently adopted by the US Senate which calls for the release of Senator de Lima.

Go, however, would not say if the President would make good his threats.

“Ang dami naman nating mga allies na talagang kusang loob na [puede] tumulong, na walang kapalit at pang-aapi. Kung ‘yun ang desisyon ng Pangulo, eh di suportado ko,” Go said. —NB, GMA News