Duterte: Bong Go is not here to control me

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said Senator Christopher “Bong” Go does not control him.

Duterte made the remark after presidential aspirant and former Army officer Lieutenant General (ret.) Antonio Parlade Jr. claimed that Go is part of the country’s “problems” and that he is controlling the president’s decisions.

In his weekly Talk to the People, the president said Go “does not control anybody.”

“Kailangan ko is Bong actually, hindi sa lahat, because Bong is the chairperson sa Senate committee on health and demography,” Duterte said.

“Health kaniya eh so mabuti lang siya nandito but he does not control anybody. [He] does not control me,” he added.

Duterte said Go is always by his side “to do his duty.”

“Para may matanungan tayo kaagad,” he said.

Parlade initially declined to expound his position, saying that people in government, including the military, could explain his statement.

He then clarified that he has no rift with Duterte’s longtime aide, but that he does  not like how the latter "controls" the president.

Duterte also previously said he is not controlled by anyone, but Parlade said: “That's his prerogative, kung 'yan ang feeling niya [if that's the way he feels]."

Go also responded to Parlade’s remarks, saying it is “natural” for him to “help in the proper implementation” of Duterte’s decision as he has been serving the president for over two decades.

These decisions include the push to increase the salaries of uniformed personnel, military and police officers.—LDF, GMA News