Bong Go disputes inclusion in PDEA drug matrix: ‘We hate drugs’

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Wednesday disputed his inclusion in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) matrix supposedly showing his ties to the illegal drug trade.

“We hate drugs and we are angry with drug lords, so I can’t be close to any drug lord. I will not agree. Former President Rodrigo Duterte said that if he knew that [his former economic adviser] Michael Yang was a drug lord, he would kill him,” Go said.

“I’m not just working. I pay attention to everyone. I’m not a stubborn person and you know that. I just want to repeat, we are not close friends with Alan Lim and I am not involved in illegal drugs,” he added.

READ: PDEA matrix ties Duterte allies to people allegedly involved in drug trade

During his presentation at the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing on the drug war, PDEA Deputy Director for Operations Assistant Secretary Renato Gumban identified Go as a close friend of Allan Lin or Lin Weixiong, husband of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation incorporator Rose Nono Lin.

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Go served as Duterte’s aide.

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When ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro asked what Go and Yang’s involvement was, Gumban said PDEA only verified Allan Lin’s links to the drug trade.

READ: House panel slams PDEA for including Go in drug matrix without verifying

Go also belied retired police colonel Royina Garma’s claims that he used to work with Irmina Espino, otherwise known as Muking, to facilitate the alleged granting of rewards to police officers who killed drug suspects during the Duterte administration’s drug war.

READ: Bong Go’s aide summoned to next House hearing on drug war