Senator Christopher “Bong” Go issued a heartfelt statement on June 19, marking the 100th day since former President Rodrigo Duterte was detained and transferred to The Hague, Netherlands, under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Today, we remember the one hundredth day since they took former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague — 100 days ago, they took away the man who was once the father of our nation. For 100 days, we have longed for Tatay Digong,” Go wrote in a Facebook post.
The senator, a known close ally of Duterte, expressed continued hope for the former president’s safe return. “We continue to pray and hope that he can come home soon to be reunited with the Filipino people, whom he served with deep dedication,” he added.
Go emphasized that Duterte’s actions during his presidency, especially his controversial war on drugs, were done to protect the country. He reiterated his belief that only the Filipino people should judge the effectiveness of Duterte’s leadership.
“As I’ve said before, former President Duterte did what he believed was best for the country and for our children. Only the people can say whether the campaign against illegal drugs made them feel safer—whether they were able to come home at night without fear, or if their children were protected from addicts and criminals,” Go explained.
He also pointed to the results of the last elections as a sign of public support for Duterte’s administration. “The people have spoken. Just by looking at the outcome of the last election, the message is clear.”
Go appealed to Filipinos to remember the cultural importance of respecting and caring for elders. “Tatay Digong is now 80 years old. In our culture, we respect our elders, we care for them, and we do not abandon them. All he wants now is to live peacefully in Davao City.”
The senator ended his statement with a call to action: “So I appeal to the Filipino people — let us pray for his health, safety, and freedom. Let us not stop until he is home.”