Bong Go says Senate hearing on Duterte’s arrest ‘too late’ 

While he appreciates Senator Imee Marcos’ initiative to conduct a probe into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte over his alleged crimes against humanity, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that it might be “too late” for that. 

“I respect the initiative of Senator Imee Marcos to hold a Senate inquiry, karapatan naman niya ‘yan bilang chairperson ng [Committee on] Foreign Relations. At ako bilang miyembro, sinasabi ko lang din po ang aking mga hinanakit na parang too late na po, ayan ang tinatawag na ‘too late the hero’ na po,” Go, who was Duterte’s former aide, told reporters on Wednesday. 

(I respect the initiative of Senator Imee Marcos to hold a Senate inquiry and she has the right to do that as the chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations. But as a member of the committee, I would like to express my grievances, I think it’s already too late, as they say ‘too late the hero.’) 

“Maibabalik pa po ba si Tatay Digong dito? Kung maibabalik po, kahit araw-araw tayo mag-hearing,” he lamented. 

(Can Tatay Digong still be brought back here? If so, then we can do hearings every day.) 

The hearing by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is scheduled for Thursday, March 20. 

“It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed and to ensure that his legal rights were not only upheld but protected, especially given the involvement of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the International Criminal Court (ICC),” said Marcos earlier. 

Meanwhile, the Malacañang said it respects the presidential sister’s call for an investigation. 

Asked if the Palace would be ready to send representatives if such an inquiry pushes through in the Senate, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said: ''If necessary. If the inquiry is in aid of legislation we will respect the request of Senator Imee.'' 

Duterte is now under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands after Philippine authorities served the warrant of arrest issued by the international tribunal.

The former president already faced the ICC last March 14 via video link. The hearing will resume in September. —LDF, GMA Integrated News