Palace defends Bong Go over ‘breach’ of Comelec’s 4-companion rule
MALACAÑANG defended on Tuesday, October 16, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who was embroiled in an issue of reportedly violating the poll body’s four-companion rule for the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2019 midterm elections.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Go was not to blame when he exceeded the number of companions allowed to accompany him to the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila when he filed his candidacy for senator.
Under the Comelec rules, election hopefuls are allowed to bring only four companions when they file their certificates of candidacy.
Go, however, filed his COC on Monday, October 15, with an overwhelming entourage that included President Rodrigo Duterte, several former and incumbent Cabinet members, members of the Presidential Security Group, and around two dozen supporters.
But Panelo said those who accompanied Go voluntarily went to the Comelec office to express their support for the senatorial bid of Duterte’s former long-time aide.
“Puro kusang loob yun. Lahat ‘yun kusang loob. Nag-takbuhan lang ‘yun (They willingly went there. Their act was voluntary. They rushed there to support him),” Panelo told Palace reporters.
“Suporta iyan eh. Kung free ako, pumunta rin ako (That was meant to express their support. I would have gone there, had I had a free time),” he added.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez admitted that Go was given a special treatment inside the poll body’s premises, considering that the President was on the senatorial hopeful’s companions.
Jimenez said “special allowances” had to be made for Go’s filing of candidacy in a bid to ensure Duterte’s safety.
“The President was here, he has to be accompanied by his security. Because the safety of the President is paramount, allowances had to be made for that,” he said.
Despite the Comelec’s admission, Panelo believed that Go did not receive any preferential treatment, noting that it was just to make some adjustments for the President’s arrival.
“Hindi naman pinaburan. Siguro ang nangyari doon hindi nila akalaing darating ang Presidente. Kaya ‘yung security nila, nagulat (He was not given any special treatment. What happened is the poll body’s security was surprised by the President’s arrival),” the Palace official said.
“So I think you cannot blame any side. Nagkataon lang. But it doesn’t mean na pinaburan si Bong Go (They just have to make some adjustments. But it doesn’t mean that they gave special treatment to Bong Go),” he added.
Even after Duterte accompanied Go to the Comelec, the President on Monday urged government officials and employees to maintain a “strictly neutral” stance when it comes to the 2019 midterm elections.
The President reminded workers in government, including the police and the military, to avoid engaging in partisan political activities and electioneering during the election season.