Leila tags Bong Go as ‘tail wagging the dog’

It was Bong Go. Senator Leila de Lima said it was President Duterte’s closest aide and presently the head of the Presidential Management Staff who allegedly ordered General Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, to reinstate the head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8 chief tagged in the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

De Lima disclosed the matter during an interview when pressed to comment on Dela Rosa’s earlier admission that it was a “higher up” and a “kumpare” who ordered the reinstatement of Supt. Marvin Marcos, who was relieved as chief of the CIDG Region 8 after the mayor was killed inside the Baybay sub-provincial jail.

“Dapat malaman natin kung sino yung higher up na ‘yan dahil hindi naman niya sinabi na it’s the President himself. (But) I have an idea who it is,” De Lima told reporters in the interview.

When pressed to reveal who it was, De Lima said: “Ma-libel kaya ako? I know. I have my own source.”

But De Lima said it was indeed one of the President’s men.

“Tao ni Duterte… I got this (information so), I better do it. Anyway, what more can they do to me?” she said. “I have my own sources, I’m just quoting a source, pero hindi ko ire-reveal ang source ko. Kawawa naman siya. (It’s) Bong Go,” De Lima said.

Go’s outright denial In Malacañang, President Duterte’s most trusted aide, Christopher “Bong” Go, strongly denied allegations he negotiated the reinstatement of the CIDG official linked to the killing of Mayor Espinosa inside his jail cell.

Go said he neither knows personally Superintendent Marvin Marcos nor meddles with the affairs of the PNP.

“The allegations are pure hearsay and unsubstantiated. I cannot recall having met former CIDG Region 8 Head Supt. Marcos and I don’t know him personally,” Go said in a text message to reporters.

“I did not ask General Bato (dela Rosa) to reinstate him. I also do not interfere with the affairs and functions of the PNP,” Go added. (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)