President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night denied anew allegations that he is being controlled by presidential aspirant Senator Christopher "Bong" Go.
In his taped "Talk to the People," Duterte defended Go's presence during his meetings with other key officials in addressing the pandemic, citing the senator's role as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
"Health kanya kaya mabuti lang siya nandito. But he does not control anybody, he does not control me. He is here to do his duty na may matanungan tayo kaagad," he said.
(He chairs Health so it’s good that he’s here. But he does not control anybody, he does not control me. He is here to do his duty so we can ask someone immediately.)
His statement comes after presidential aspirant Ret Lt Gen Antonio Parlade alleged on Monday afternoon that Go is controlling the president.
"I just don't like the way he does things, including controlling the decisions of the president," Parlade said after filing his candidacy for president.
Go later denied this, saying he is only helping the president on making his decisions.
"Nasagot na mismo ni Pangulong Duterte na walang nagko-kontrol sa kanya. Natural lamang, bilang matagal niya akong assistant ng mahigit dalawang dekada, tumutulong lang ako sa pag-implementa nang tama ng mga desisyon niya na nakakabuti sa bayan," he said.
(President Duterte already answered that no one is controlling him. It’s only natural, as someone who has been his assistant for more than two decades, that I help him in implementing properly the decisions that are good for the country.)
Parlade also said the government should ask the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on instances where Go controlled Duterte.
But Lorenzana denied this, claiming Parlade's accusations were baseless.
"Lt. Gen. Parlade's statement is baseless. In the years I have known the president, he has always been his own man," he said. "I have not known any instance when SBG acted outdside the wishes and decisions of the president."
The AFP also distanced itself from the issue.
"The AFP is and will remain non-partisan. Our mandate is clear. Our task is to ensure the peace and security of the elections and allow the will of the Filipino people to manifest and prevail."
Duterte also previously denied claims that Go is dictating him.
"Dinidiktahan? Ako ang magdikta sa kanya. Hindi ako nagpapadikta, at ako siguro ang nagsasabi sa kanya kung ano ang what’s next ika nga," he said.
(Dictated? I’m the one dictating him. I don’t allow myself to get dictated, and I might be the one telling him what’s next, as they say.)
