Senator Christopher “Bong” Go delivered an emotional appeal on July 9 while at the Senate, as he called on the Filipino public to pray for former president Rodrigo Duterte’s health and support calls for his immediate repatriation from The Hague.
Go became visibly emotional as he shared what he had learned from Duterte’s daughter, Kitty Duterte, about the former president’s declining health.
“Ako po’y sobrang nalulungkot. I miss him dearly,” he said. “‘Yung nabalitaan natin, totoo po ‘yun na buto’t balat po siya dahil mismo ‘yung isa sa mga anak n’ya, si Kitty, ay nai-kwento sa akin na habang minamasahe nila ‘yung likod, talagang nawala na ‘yung laman.”
For Go, these revelations were deeply painful.
“Nakakalungkot, nakakaiyak po na dumating tayo sa puntong nagbibigay ng huling habilin ang ating pinakamamahal na dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” he continued. “He does not deserve this, sa totoo po. Nag-serbisyo po siya sa atin sa anim na taon dito sa buong Pilipinas. Minahal n’ya po tayo.”
Go reflected on his deep bond with Duterte, describing him as someone he considered like a father figure.
“Kung darating naman tayo sa panahon na kukunin tayo ng Panginoon, sana po’y dito po ‘yon sa ating bayan,” Go said. “Ito po ang kinakatakutan ko pong mangyari sa taong minahal at itinuring ko rin po na parang ama.”
He went on to describe how their bond spanned more than two decades — one that, in many ways, surpassed even his relationship with his own father.
“Sa totoo lamang po, mas nakasama ko pa siya sa buong buhay ko na mas madalas. More than 100 times,” he said. “Mas nakasama ko pa siya kesa sa totoong tatay ko. Siya na po ‘yung parang naging pangalawang tatay ko. Siya na talaga ang parang naging tatay ko po sa nakaraang 24 years hanggang sa 2022 pag-end ng kanyang termino.”
“Alam n’yo po ang kinakatakutan ko ‘yung may mangyari kay Tatay Digong,” he warned. “Ang mamatay siya sa banyagang lupain, malayo sa piling ng kanyang pamilya at milyun-milyong Pilipinong minahal at pinagsilbihan n’ya po.”
Go appealed to the nation to remember how Filipinos treat their elders — with care and compassion — and said Duterte deserves the same.
“Ipinagdadasal ko po na sana po’y huwag po itong mangyari. Dito siya dapat sa inang bayan tumanda dito sa ating bayan.”
“Alam n’yo, inaalagaan natin ang ating mga lolo’t lola. Dapat po’y alagaan rin po natin siya.”
Vice President Sara Duterte disclosed that her father had already given his final instructions. If he dies in The Hague, he wants to be cremated there, with only his ashes brought home.
Go also lamented how Duterte no longer has access to his longtime doctors in the Philippines — a stark contrast to decades of closely monitored medical care.
“Matanda na po si Tatay Digong, marami na siyang sakit,” Go said. “At ang pagkaalam ko, nakausap po ‘yung doktor n’ya rito, ay parang wala na nga po siyang access, ‘yung local doctor n’ya rito.”
“Wala na po siyang access sa current status ng medical condition ni former president Duterte. Unlike before, since 2001 up to 2025, for 20 years, more than 20 years, may access siya, monitored n’ya daily, monthly, weekly, yearly ‘yung medical condition. Ngayon wala siyang access at hindi po na-reveal o na-divulge sa kanya ang kasalukuyang estado po ni Tatay Digong, ni former president Duterte. Nakakalungkot.”
Go emphasized that Duterte must be brought home while he is still alive.
“Sabi ko nga, let’s bring him home alive. Buhay po. Dalahin natin siya ritong buhay,” he stressed. “The Philippines is the land of his birth. It is the home of his people. Dito naman siya nanilbihan sa atin, nag-serbisyo. Minahal n’ya tayo, sana naman po’y maibalik siya rito.”
He confirmed that he is one of the authors of a joint Senate resolution, together with Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Robinhood Padilla, urging for Duterte’s immediate repatriation.
“Kaya naman po, nakiisa po ako roon sa resolution, ipa-file or joint resolution with the Senator Robin Padilla and Senator Bato Dela Rosa urging for the immediate repatriation ni Tatay Digong.”
Go shifted his message toward a call for public servants to put aside divisions and refocus their attention on national priorities.
“Ako, sana trabaho na po tayo. Sa mga kapwa ko fellow public servants, sana po, nakikiusap ako, sana trabaho na po muna tayo, magkaisa tayo,” he said. “At huwag po tayong tumigil na manawagan. I’m urging everyone to continue praying, ipagdasal po natin si Tatay Digong, ang kanyang kalusugan, kaligtasan at ang kanyang kalayaan.”
He also shared that he had witnessed Duterte’s last will many years ago, long before the former president left office, underscoring that final decisions would ultimately be left to the family.
“Dadagdagan ko na lang po sa nabanggit nga po ni VP Sara about doon sa kanyang huling habilin. Naalala ko lang, in fact, isa po ako sa witness. Kasi usually ‘pag meron pong last will ang isang tao, siguro about 15 years ago na po ‘yon, na naging witness po ako roon sa kanyang mga pinagbilin.”
“At nasa abogado na po n’ya ‘yon to execute pagdating ng panahon. Gano’n naman po si Tatay Digong noon pa, kahit na nagkakausap kami. Sinasabi n’ya kung sakaling may mangyari sa kanya, decision na po ‘yon ng pamilya. Pamilya pong masusunod d’yan. Lahat naman tayo, pamilya natin ang masusunod kung sakaling darating ‘yung panahon na kukunin po tayo ng Panginoon.”
Go ended his message with a final plea for solidarity and peace.
“Pakiusap ko lang, ipagdasal po natin si Tatay Digong. Ipagdasal natin, ‘wag po tayong tumigil. And I’m calling for peace and unity among our fellow public servants po. Salamat po.”