Gov’t officials urged to help fight corruption

My fellow government workers, the President needs everyone’s cooperation. I am making an appeal, our President is serious in his campaign to end corruption. He doesn’t care who gets hit along the way,” Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go said. (PNA file photo)

MANILA — Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday rallied government officials to cooperate and help President Rodrigo R. Duterte in his anti-corruption drive.

“Kailangan niya po cooperation ng lahat, mga kasamahan natin sa gobyerno. Nakikiusap lang po, seryoso po ang ating Pangulo sa pagsugpo ng corruption. Ibig kong sabihin, masagasaan ang masagasaan, wala ho siyang pakialam (My fellow government workers, the President needs everyone’s cooperation. I am making an appeal, our President is serious in his campaign to end corruption. He doesn’t care who gets hit along the way),” he said in a media interview.

Go made the appeal citing the President’s frustration on the difficulty of cleaning the government.

“Siyempre po naawa ako sa ating Pangulo. Medyo matanda na rin siya at pilit niya talagang… gusto man niyang disiplinahin lahat, ngunit talagang napakahirap (Of course I can sense the President’s difficulties. He is getting old and he’s doing all he can. He wants to discipline everyone but it is really very difficult),” he said.

“Ako po ay nalulungkot at naaawa sa kanya na nakikita ko siya na pilit po niyang tapusin ang corruption, droga, at tsaka itong (laban para sa) peace and order. Ginagawa niya ang lahat talaga. Halos hindi na po nagpapahinga ang ating Pangulo, magawa lang ang kanyang tungkulin (I get sad whenever I see him trying his best to end corruption, drugs, and instill peace and order. He is really doing all he can. Our President hardly even rests just so he can fulfill his responsibility),” he added.

Meanwhile, Go said despite the enormous responsibilities of his office, the President is well and is continuing to fulfill his responsibilities.

“I think nag-comment po si Secretary Dominguez kanina na kailangan po muna magpahinga ng Pangulo. In fact, napakalakas pa ang Pangulo. Hanggang alas dos ng umaga magkasama pa kami, nag-uusap pa kami. Baka mas malakas pa iyan sa inyo. Mentally and physically napakalakas ng Pangulo. Kayang kaya niya tapusin ang kanyang termino physically and mentally (I think Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez made a comment earlier that the President needs to take some rest. In fact, the President is very strong. We continue to work up to 2 in the morning. He’s probably stronger than all of you. Mentally and physically the President is strong. He can definitely finish his term), Go said.

Go said what Dominguez meant was that the President is tired of the seemingly never-ending cases of corruption in government.