Bong Go seeks amendment to juvenile justice law

said he will continue to serve Duterte as a private citizen and without getting any stipend in return. (File Photo: Bong Go/Facebook)

MANILA — Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Sunday said he would initiate a review of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act if given a Senate seat.

“Kung sakaling papalarin at kawaan ng Panginoon, ay sisilipin ko ang juvenile justice law kasi marami sa mga kabataan natin ang ginagamit ng sindikato para maging drug courier po sila ksi alam po nating hindi naman sila makukulong kapag less than 15 years old kaya ito ang isa sa aking mga unang gagawin (If the Lord wills it, I will check the juvenile justice law because many of our young people are used by syndicate groups as drug couriers since they won’t be jailed if they’re under 15 so this is one of the first things I’m going to do),” he said in an interview in Navotas City.

Lawmakers earlier proposed to lower the criminal age of responsibility, citing that adult criminals are using young people to commit heinous crimes considering that they cannot be held criminally liable.

Stressing that young people are common victims of illegal drug use and trade, the former presidential aide urged public officials to engage in worthwhile activities, which could provide them positive distraction against drugs.

“Mailayo sa droga ang mga kabataan at mag-basketball na lang sila, may mga rehab centers naman tayo para sa mga gusto magbagong buhay dahil biktima lamang sila ng ipinagbabawal na gamot (Keep the youth away from drugs and they’d just play basketball, we have rehab centers for those who want to start a new life because they are just victims of illegal drugs. Basketball is one of my advocacies in support of the president’s commitment against crime, drugs and corruption),” he added.

In line with his advocacy for the youth, Go lauded the Navotas city government for winning the Galing Pook, a competition on good education governance.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s former aide also vowed to help fire and flood victims if given a seat in the upper house.

“Kaya nga sinasabi ko sa mga bumabatikos, wala naman kayong nagagawa sumama nalang kayo sa akin, magtulung-tulong na lang tayo para sa mga kababayan nating nasunugan at nabagyo dahil sila ng tunay na kawawa kapag hindi natulungan (That’s why I tell my critics, there’s nothing you can do so just join me, let’s work together to help fire and flood victims as they’re really pitiful if they don’t receive help),” he said.

Since he has resigned from his post in the government, Go said Duterte is now looking for his replacement while other staff members are working on the tasks he left.

“Isang maliit na opisina lang ang opisina ko na masyado lang nilang pinapalaki. Marami pong magagaling na Pilipino na kayang gawin at gampanan ang trabaho ko. Hayaan na lang natin ang pangulo kung sino ang mapili niya kasi ang trust and confidence niya lang ang makaka-decide diyan (My office is just a small office and other people just make it look big. There are many knowledgeable Filipinos who can do and take over my job. Let’s leave it to the president to decide on it based on trust and confidence),” he added.

Go said he will continue to serve Duterte as a private citizen and without getting any stipend in return.

“May mga personal na pangangailangan ang ating pangulo na hindi ko pwede pabayaan dahil pinangako ko iyon noon pa, wala pa man ang pagtakbo, pangako ko po sa kanya habang buhay ko siya pagsisilbihan at hindi po ako mawawala sa tabi niya (The president has personal needs which I cannot neglect because it is my promise to him, even before I decided to run [for Senate], I promised him I will serve him for life and I will not leave him),” he said.

Go added that he is still SAP — “special assistant to the people”.