21-05-2025
Bong Go to Marcos: Bring FPRRD back to PH before any talks of reconciliation
Former president Rodrigo Duterte should be brought back to the Philippines first before any talks of reconciliation, reelected senator Bong Go said Wednesday.
Go made the remark when asked to react about President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s latest statement that he is open to reconciling with the Duterte family.
'Kung gusto niyo po ng reconciliation, pabalikin niyo muna si Tatay Digong, kasi siya naman po ang dapat kausapin. Siya yung elder Duterte, siya po yung nag serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan noong nakaraang anim na taon,' Go, a close aide to the former president, said.
(If he wants a reconciliation, they should bring back Tatay Digong first, because he is the one they should talk to. He is the elder Duterte, he was the one who served our countrymen in the past six years.)
The lawmaker, who is a loyal ally of the Duterte family, emphasized that bringing back the former president to the Philippines will show sincerity on the part of the Marcos administration.
'I cannot speak in behalf sa pamilya, but kung meron man po, my personal position is importante rito yung sinseridad dapat sincere ka sa pag-uusap at unang hakbang diyan, pauwiin si Tatay Digong,' he said.
'Kung kaya niyo pong ipadala sa loob ng labingapat na oras si Tatay Digong, alam kong kaya niyo rin pong ipabalik dito sa lalong mabilis na panahon,' he added.
('I cannot speak on behalf of the family, but if I am allowed, my personal position is what is important is one should be sincere in talks and the first step is to bring the former president home.
'If you are capable of sending Tatay Digong (to The Hague) in 14 hours, I know you can bring him back in the soonest time possible.)
Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte were running mates in Eleksyon 2022, with the latter being appointed as Education chief. Their relations, however, had gone sour as Duterte eventually quit from her Cabinet post.
In January 2024, the Duterte patriarch, former president Rodrigo Duterte, called Marcos 'bangag,' meaning a person who is high on drugs, as well as someone who wants to be a dictator just like his late father, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte also said Marcos should step down from his post because he lacks vision for the country.
In April of last year, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos said the Vice President was already on her bad side, given that she allowed her father to make disparaging comments on her husband.
The First Lady said she was hurt when Duterte attended a rally where the President was accused of being high on illegal drugs.
Months later, the Vice President continued her tirades against the First Family.
The rift widened after the arrest of Marcos' predecessor due to crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that was defended by the administration, saying that it only honored Manila's commitment to Interpol. —RF, GMA Integrated News
