Bong Go


Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Tesoro Go is a Filipino politician who has been serving as a senator since 2019. He previously served in President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet as the Special Assistant to the President and Head of the Presidential Management Staff from June 2016 to October 2018. Go has served as the personal aide/special assistant of Rodrigo Duterte since 1998, back when Duterte was still mayor of Davao City.

Early life and education

Go is the son of the Davao-based businessman Desiderio Go and Marichu Tesoro-Go. Go was born on June 14, 1974 to a Chinese Filipino family. He is a grandson of August Tesoro, whose father founded one of the largest printing press in Davao City. Go attended De La Salle University and graduated with a Management degree.

Career

Duterte's special assistant (1998–2019)

Since 1998, Go has served as executive assistant and personal aide for then-Mayor of Davao City Rodrigo Duterte. Being in charge of both personal and official matters, he has called himself as Duterte's all around 'utility man'.
During the 2016 election campaign season, Go was often described as the "national photobomber" by the media, for being always in the photos at the side of Duterte in his campaign sorties. He is one of the key people in Duterte's campaign for presidency. On October 15, 2015, Go filed Duterte's certificate of candidacy on Duterte's behalf at the Comelec office in Manila, for a re-election bid for the Davao City mayoralty post.
Then President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on June 2, 2016 announced the appointment of Christopher Go as the Special Assistant to the President and is tasked to provide general supervision to the Presidential Management Staff.
During his time as Special Assistant to the President, his alleged involvement in the Philippine Navy's Frigate Deal was revealed by online news site Rappler. Pertinent documents that linked Bong Go to the deal, detailing how he had interfered with the process, violating several procurement laws when he endorsed a supplier outside the bidding process were released to the public. Bong Go denied the allegations, declaring that he would resign if ever he was proven guilty and claimed that the media and his critics are endangering national security. Vice Admiral Mercado of the Philippine Navy, who was allegedly sacked for questioning the frigate deal, has cleared Go of any involvement, claiming that Go had never communicated with those who were involved in the deal. Duterte defended Go, saying that " owns a yacht, therefore he doesn't need to steal in the frigate deal". The Malacañang also made clear their stance that Bong Go did not intervene. A probe by the Senate regarding the deal was made, but did no further clarifications about Go's role on the deal.
During his time as Special Assistant to the President, he became known for selfies he posted online, saying he values these images as part of his "personal collection".

Senator (2019–present)

Bong Go made a formal bid for the Senate on October 15, 2018 when he filed his certificate of candidacy accompanied by President Rodrigo Duterte and other members of the president's Cabinet. Go's platform for his Senate bid includes pledges to build healthcare and social service facilities dubbed as "Malasakit Centers" across the Philippines as well as the repeal of the Juvenile Justice law which sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15 years old. Doubts about his capability to conduct a nationwide campaign was countered by President Duterte, noting that the Tesoros, Go's mother's family, own one of the largest printing firms in Mindanao.
Even before his formal filing of candidacy, Go has already been subject of allegations of premature campaigning. In relief operations after a fire in Manila, relief goods with "Ready Set Go" branding were distributed alongside government relief goods provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Go has repeatedly denied that he was personally involved in the production or distribution of any merchandise, once citing his supporters as producing them without his consent and on one occasion said that it was done under the President's directive. He also urged his supporters to stopped "politicizing" their cause by using his name and likeness. Nonetheless, calls for tarpaulins bearing his image to be removed had made the rounds in social media.
After the election, Go garnered roughly 21 million votes and was sworn into office after placing 3rd overall, he officially took his seat in the Senate beginning his term on June 30, 2019. On his first months in office, Go had filed several bills including creating a Department of Disaster Resilience, the postponement of the 2020 Sangguniang Kabataan elections on the barangay level, and a bill co-authored with fellow Senator Manny Pacquiao pushing a death penalty back for heinous crimes such as illegal drugs, plunder, rape, and murder.
In 2019, Go authored the Malasakit Center Act, which meant to serve as one-stop for easy access to medical and financial assistance needed to receive health care services. Amid the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Go proposed the Balik Probinsya program, which meant to decongest the overcrowded Metro Manila once the coronavirus pandemic is put under control. The program was institutionalized by President Duterte on May 6 via Executive Order No. 114.
On July 17, 2020, he was involved in a controversy when a college student was filed a subpoena order by the NBI after Bong Go complained of the student sharing a post on social media possibly containing fake news which were against the Senator. The Senator faced backlash on social media, with a new trend on Twitter "#TanginaMoBongGo" started by irate netizens for what they considered as the senator's heavy-handed response to online criticism.

Personal life

Beyond politics, Bong Go is also an avid basketball fan and has participated in amateur leagues and guested in prominent local basketball events in the country. He usually spectates in the Philippine Basketball Association and joined in the three-point shoot out competition of the 2018 PBA All-Star Week. Along with Senators Sonny Angara and Joel Villanueva, Go was featured in a three-point shoot out exhibition during the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup which was hosted in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Go also joined the roster of the Muntinlupa Cagers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. This move was objected by his critics as using the MPBL as a platform for his senatorial bid in 2019. Go defended the move saying he just wanted to promote basketball in the country and acknowledged his old age and the superior height of his opponents. He rarely played appearing in only one season with the team, to focus on his Senate job and on assisting Duterte as his political advisor.