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Go Hits Back At ICC Claims: 'I Just Did My Job'
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Senator Bong Go has pushed back strongly against allegations raised by the International Criminal Court (ICC), after a redacted version of its Document Containing the Charges identified him as an alleged co-perpetrator in supposed abuses linked to the previous administration.
The document, released by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor on February 13, named the senator in connection with the case involving former president Rodrigo Duterte. But Go dismissed the claims outright, saying they distort the truth about the work he actually performed.
“I dispute these allegations, which are entirely unfounded, one-sided, unfair, and bear no relation to the reality of my roles and responsibilities during my service as Special Assistant to the President from June 2016 to October 2018, as well as Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Davao City from 1998 to 2016,” Go said.
According to the senator, his duties throughout those years were limited to administrative and clerical tasks—far from anything involving law enforcement, police operations, or decisions tied to anti-drug campaigns.
“Let me be clear, at no time did I have any involvement in, knowledge of, or authority over these allegations. It is also inaccurate to claim that I was Chief of the Presidential Management Staff then, since at no point in time did that responsibility fall under mine,” he stressed.
Go said he has always been guided by lawful conduct and moral responsibility, principles he said he learned from Duterte himself.
“Alam ng aking mga kababayan na ginawa ko lang ang aking trabaho na naaayon sa batas ng tao at batas ng Diyos upang matulungan ang aking mga kapwa Pilipino, lalo na ang mga mahihirap at walang ibang malalapitan kundi ang gobyerno,” he added.
He also insisted that Duterte never gave him illegal orders, recalling years of working closely with him from Davao City Hall to Malacañang.
“Bilang kasama ni FPRRD noon sa pagseserbisyo mula mayor pa siya hanggang naging Special Assistant to the President ako bago maihalal na Senador, walang iniutos si FPRRD sa akin na iligal. Hindi rin naman ako susunod sa anumang iligal na utos mula kaninuman,” Go earlier said.
He added that Duterte’s intent had always been to protect the public: “Ang tanging hangarin ni dating Pangulong Duterte ay linisin ang ating bansa at labanan ang mga naghahasik ng lagim lalo na pagdating sa droga. Ito ay para proteksyunan ang ating mga anak.”
Despite the ICC document naming him among alleged co-perpetrators, Go said the accusations would not distract him from fulfilling his mandate.
“Throughout my career, I have upheld the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and dedication to the welfare of our people. I will not allow these baseless accusations to distract me from my responsibilities as a duly elected Senator of the Republic,” he said.
Go reaffirmed that he remains committed to public service—especially to programs aiding poor and vulnerable communities.
“Patuloy kong gagawin ang aking trabaho at magseserbisyo ako nang tapat at may malasakit dahil naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” he said.
The document, released by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor on February 13, named the senator in connection with the case involving former president Rodrigo Duterte. But Go dismissed the claims outright, saying they distort the truth about the work he actually performed.
“I dispute these allegations, which are entirely unfounded, one-sided, unfair, and bear no relation to the reality of my roles and responsibilities during my service as Special Assistant to the President from June 2016 to October 2018, as well as Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Davao City from 1998 to 2016,” Go said.
According to the senator, his duties throughout those years were limited to administrative and clerical tasks—far from anything involving law enforcement, police operations, or decisions tied to anti-drug campaigns.
“Let me be clear, at no time did I have any involvement in, knowledge of, or authority over these allegations. It is also inaccurate to claim that I was Chief of the Presidential Management Staff then, since at no point in time did that responsibility fall under mine,” he stressed.
Go said he has always been guided by lawful conduct and moral responsibility, principles he said he learned from Duterte himself.
“Alam ng aking mga kababayan na ginawa ko lang ang aking trabaho na naaayon sa batas ng tao at batas ng Diyos upang matulungan ang aking mga kapwa Pilipino, lalo na ang mga mahihirap at walang ibang malalapitan kundi ang gobyerno,” he added.
He also insisted that Duterte never gave him illegal orders, recalling years of working closely with him from Davao City Hall to Malacañang.
“Bilang kasama ni FPRRD noon sa pagseserbisyo mula mayor pa siya hanggang naging Special Assistant to the President ako bago maihalal na Senador, walang iniutos si FPRRD sa akin na iligal. Hindi rin naman ako susunod sa anumang iligal na utos mula kaninuman,” Go earlier said.
He added that Duterte’s intent had always been to protect the public: “Ang tanging hangarin ni dating Pangulong Duterte ay linisin ang ating bansa at labanan ang mga naghahasik ng lagim lalo na pagdating sa droga. Ito ay para proteksyunan ang ating mga anak.”
Despite the ICC document naming him among alleged co-perpetrators, Go said the accusations would not distract him from fulfilling his mandate.
“Throughout my career, I have upheld the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and dedication to the welfare of our people. I will not allow these baseless accusations to distract me from my responsibilities as a duly elected Senator of the Republic,” he said.
Go reaffirmed that he remains committed to public service—especially to programs aiding poor and vulnerable communities.
“Patuloy kong gagawin ang aking trabaho at magseserbisyo ako nang tapat at may malasakit dahil naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” he said.
Feb 16, 2026
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