SAP Go denies invitation to Ampatuan daughter’s wedding

In a media interview, Go said neither he nor his office received a printed invitation stating that he will be a principal sponsor to the said wedding. (PCOO File Photo)

DAVAO CITY — Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday denied accepting an invitation to be a sponsor at the wedding of Bai Nor Aila Kristina Ampatuan, daughter of detained former Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, who is one of the principal suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

In a media interview, Go said neither he nor his office received a printed invitation stating that he will be a principal sponsor to the said wedding.

“Hindi ko talaga alam ninong po ako sa kasal. Nabasa ko na lang po kahapon sa media reports na kasama pala ako doon sa invited [na mag-ninong] (I did not know that I will be a principal sponsor to that wedding. I only read about it in the media reports),” he said.

He added that he and even President Rodrigo Duterte are often included in the list of sponsors for weddings and other events even though they have not been informed nor consulted.

“Hindi kami halos iniinform ng nagiimbita sa amin sa kasal. Nilalagay lang pangalan namin without permission. Di namin alam nilalagay pangalan namin as ninong (At times, we are not informed by the invitees. Our names are placed without permission. We do not even know we are principal sponsors),” he said.

The presidential aide said he did not attend the wedding because he was with the President at that time for another engagement in Cebu City.

“Nandoon kami ni Pangulong Duterte sa Cebu para sa League of Municipalities of the Philippines sa Visayas Chapter (We were with the President in Cebu for the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Visayas Chapter),” he added, saying that he was busy fulfilling his duties as SAP.

He said even though several public officials were invited to the wedding, the ongoing case against Ampatuan and other suspects in the case will continue and will not be affected.

“Di po makaka-apekto sa kaso (ang imbitasyon). Tuloy-tuloy po ang kaso at pareho tayo na ang hinihiling at inaasam dito ay makuha na ang hustisya sa nangyari doon sa Maguindanao massacre. Gaya nga ng sinabi ni Secretary (Harry Roque), tuloy-tuloy po ang paghanap natin ng hustisya (This will not affect the case. The case will still move forward and we are all hoping for justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre. As Secretary Harry Roque said, we will continue with the pursuit for justice),” he said.

Go said the President is also one with the victims in the pursuit for justice in the Maguindanao Massacre.

“Gusto rin niya na mabilis na mabigyan ng hustisya ang nangyari (He also wants justice to be given to what happened to the victims),” he said.