Sen. Bong Go said yesterday that President Duterte has yet to decide on the invitation of United States President Donald Trump to attend a summit between the US and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 4.
“Sa pagkaalam ko, inimbitahan po siya, mayroon pong ASEAN summit na gaganapin sa Marso doon sa Las Vegas, at gustung-gusto po raw ni President Trump na imbitahan si Pangulong Duterte para dumalo doon sa ASEAN,” Go said.
He stressed that the US President has shown eagerness to see Duterte in the US-ASEAN summit.
“Matagal na niyang iniimbita si Pangulong Duterte, napakarami pong Pilipino sa America. Hindi ko pa po alam ang magiging desisyon po ng ating Pangulo kung tutuloy ba siya. Sa pagkaalam ko noon, as a matter of principle, ayaw talaga niyang pumunta,” he added.
Should he go to the US with Duterte, Go said that he is also interested in meeting Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy who introduced a US entry ban resolution against Filipino officials involved in Sen. Leila de Lima’s detention.
Go emphasized that the Duterte administration is not persecuting De Lima since “that it is not the President’s style to silence his critics.”
He, however, criticized the American lawmakers for meddling in the country’s internal affairs and judicial system without knowing all the facts.
“Dapat alamin muna nila kung mayroon bang persecution na ginawa. It’s not persecution, even a percent po walang persecution na ginagawa ang ating Pangulo. He is not known for that. Hindi vindictive ang ating Pangulo,” he said.
“Mayroon talagang prosecution (that) was upheld by the Supreme Court. Kaya sabi ko, you come here, you research more. ‘Wag kang maniniwala muna sa intrigues, sa mga chismis. Not our style,’” he added. (Mario Casayuran)