MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte remains determined to wipe out corruption in government.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go made the remark following Duterte’s pronouncement that he is already getting tired of a seemingly endless fight against corruption.
“Ang ibig niya pong sabihin doon ay napapagod siya sa walang katapusang kurapsyon (He is already exhausted from the endless corruption). Exasperated na po ang ating Pangulo (The President is already exasperated). Ako po ay nalulungkot at naaawa sa kanya na nakikita ko sya na pilit nyang tapusin ang kurapsyon, drugs, tsaka itong peace and order. Ginagawa nyang lahat talaga (I am saddened and I pity him given that he is exerting all efforts to curb corruption, drugs and maintain peace and order. He is doing everything),” the top presidential aide said in an interview on the sidelines of his visit to victims of Tuesday’s fire on Sampaloc St. corner CP Garcia St., Tondo, Manila, where six people died.
Go also called on government employees to help the President in the fight against corruption.
“Halos hindi na po nagpapahinga ang ating Pangulo upang gampanan ang kanyang tungkulin. Kailangan nya po ang kooperasyon ng lahat. ‘Yung mga kasamahan natin sa gobyerno, pakiusap lang po, seryoso po ang ating Pangulo sa kampanya nya laban sa kurapsyon. Ibig nyang sabihin, masagasaan na ang masagasaan, wala siyang pakialam (The President hardly rests in fulfilling his mandate. He needs everyone’s cooperation. To our fellow workers in government, please, our President is serious in his anti-corruption campaign. It means no one will be spared. He doesn’t care),” he said.
Go, however, noted that Duterte is very healthy and will be able to finish his term.
“Hanggang alas-dos ng umaga magkasama pa kami, nag-uusap pa kami. Baka mas malakas pa ‘yan sa inyo (We talk until 2 a.m. He may be stronger than you). Mentally and physically, napakalakas ng Pangulo at kayang kaya nya tapusin ang kanyang termino (the President is very strong and can finish his term),” Go said.
Meanwhile, he expressed sympathy to the families of the six persons who perished in the almost two-hour fire.
“Malungkot po ako na may anim na nasawi kaya pinadala po tayo dito ni Presidente para ibahagi ang konting tulong sa inyo. Sa mga tao po dito, mag-ingat po kayo (I am sad because six people died and I was sent here by the President to extend aid. To residents here, please take care),” Go said.
Aside from grocery items, clothes and other basic necessities, the government also provided financial assistance to the 108 families affected by the fire.
The evacuees are currently staying at the Barangay 114 covered court.
One of the victims, Emmanuel Bermudo, 17, expressed gratitude to Go, who promised to shoulder his hospital expenses.
Bermudo jumped from the fourth floor of their house to escape from the blaze that killed his 14-year-old sister.
He sustained third-degree burns and is waiting for the X-ray result on his right leg.
Go also gave him his watch and promised to give him shoes, which he usually does when he visits fire victims.