Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte hit Senator Christopher Go for his silence on issues involving the southern city that has been a stronghold of the Dutertes for decades now.
In what appeared to a thinly-veiled threat and challenge to Go to prove his loyalty, Duterte said the senator should “redeem” himself, especially if he has any future political plans.
“Bong Go, you are my friend. We Dabawenyos voted for you. If I had known that this is what you would do, we would not have voted for you,” the mayor said during a Hakbang ng Maisug (Step of the Brave) prayer rally in Angeles, Pampanga on Monday.
“He has time to redeem himself because if he still have plans to run for public office, he should show that he is one with the Dabawenyos in times like this,” the younger Duterte said.
The senator, however, said that while he understands the sentiments of the Davao City mayor, his priority is to serve the public instead of attending events of his former boss.
“As they say, there is always a time for everything. So, I prioritize giving services,” Go said in a statement.
“This is what I learned from the mayor’s father—former President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.
Go underscored the former President’s advice to him was to put the welfare of Filipinos, especially the poor, above everything else.
“(By doing so), I won’t go wrong,” he said.
Go is a long-time friend and trusted aide of the former president.
The Duterte patriarch actively campaigned for Go when the latter ran for senator.
However, the Davao mayor said Go failed to take a stand amid the incidents that happened in the city, including the reshuffling of several police officers as well as the operation to arrest Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Go was absent during the Maisug event in Pampanga, but he attended the first prayer event in Davao City in January.