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Bong Go's Emotional Plea: 'Pilipino Dapat Ang Humusga'
Screengrab from Senate PH
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go didn’t hold back during the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ public hearing on March 20, 2025. With raw emotion, he questioned why former President Rodrigo Duterte was taken from Philippine soil and brought to The Hague, Netherlands, without the government standing its ground.
“Paano at bakit tayo umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon?” he asked, his voice filled with frustration.
Go lamented that the inquiry was happening when it was already too late—Duterte was already in ICC custody. He emphasized that hearings and investigations are useless if they cannot bring back the former president.
A President Without Medical Care?
The senator also recounted his attempt to accompany Duterte at NAIA before his departure, along with the former president’s doctors. He was denied entry. Go expressed deep concern about Duterte’s health, noting that the 80-year-old leader relies on 27 different medications.
“Ako ang nagpapadala ng medisina sa bahay niya. Linggo-linggo yan,” he shared, emphasizing his personal commitment to Duterte’s well-being.
He criticized authorities for allegedly refusing medical access to Duterte upon arrival in The Hague.
“Bakit hindi pinayagan ng mga pulis ang doktor niya na makita siya?” he questioned, underscoring that every Filipino, regardless of status, has a right to medical care.
“Ganyan Ba Dapat ang Trato?”
Go also took issue with how authorities handled Duterte’s arrest. He recalled how some police officers were visibly emotional, with one even seen crying on video. He slammed a PNP official for dismissing the scene as mere “pampunas ng pawis” (wiping sweat).
“Mapipigilan mo bang umiyak? Nasasaktan po yan,” he pointed out, highlighting that even law enforcers were affected by the turn of events.
“Pilipino ang Dapat Humusga”
But beyond Duterte’s personal ordeal, Go raised a bigger concern—the Philippines’ sovereignty.
“Hindi ko lubusang matanggap na siya ay nililitis sa ibang bansa gayong siya ay isang Pilipino.”
He questioned why the government allowed an international warrant to be implemented when it has consistently rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction.
“Ang bawat Pilipino, dapat may gobyernong masasandalan na hindi siya pababayaan. Former president man o hindi.”
“March 11: The Saddest Day in Our History”
For Go, Duterte’s extradition wasn’t just about one man—it was about the Filipino people losing their right to judge their own leaders.
“Mistulang inialay at ipinamigay rin dito ang karapatan ng Pilipino na husgahan ang ating kababayan.”
He ended his speech with a heavy heart, saying March 11, the day Duterte was taken, was the saddest in Philippine history.
“Sana po hindi na ito maulit. Marami pong nasaktan na Pilipino.”
“Paano at bakit tayo umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon?” he asked, his voice filled with frustration.
Go lamented that the inquiry was happening when it was already too late—Duterte was already in ICC custody. He emphasized that hearings and investigations are useless if they cannot bring back the former president.
A President Without Medical Care?
The senator also recounted his attempt to accompany Duterte at NAIA before his departure, along with the former president’s doctors. He was denied entry. Go expressed deep concern about Duterte’s health, noting that the 80-year-old leader relies on 27 different medications.
“Ako ang nagpapadala ng medisina sa bahay niya. Linggo-linggo yan,” he shared, emphasizing his personal commitment to Duterte’s well-being.
He criticized authorities for allegedly refusing medical access to Duterte upon arrival in The Hague.
“Bakit hindi pinayagan ng mga pulis ang doktor niya na makita siya?” he questioned, underscoring that every Filipino, regardless of status, has a right to medical care.
“Ganyan Ba Dapat ang Trato?”
Go also took issue with how authorities handled Duterte’s arrest. He recalled how some police officers were visibly emotional, with one even seen crying on video. He slammed a PNP official for dismissing the scene as mere “pampunas ng pawis” (wiping sweat).
“Mapipigilan mo bang umiyak? Nasasaktan po yan,” he pointed out, highlighting that even law enforcers were affected by the turn of events.
“Pilipino ang Dapat Humusga”
But beyond Duterte’s personal ordeal, Go raised a bigger concern—the Philippines’ sovereignty.
“Hindi ko lubusang matanggap na siya ay nililitis sa ibang bansa gayong siya ay isang Pilipino.”
He questioned why the government allowed an international warrant to be implemented when it has consistently rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction.
“Ang bawat Pilipino, dapat may gobyernong masasandalan na hindi siya pababayaan. Former president man o hindi.”
“March 11: The Saddest Day in Our History”
For Go, Duterte’s extradition wasn’t just about one man—it was about the Filipino people losing their right to judge their own leaders.
“Mistulang inialay at ipinamigay rin dito ang karapatan ng Pilipino na husgahan ang ating kababayan.”
He ended his speech with a heavy heart, saying March 11, the day Duterte was taken, was the saddest in Philippine history.
“Sana po hindi na ito maulit. Marami pong nasaktan na Pilipino.”
Mar 20, 2025
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