The senator/personal assistant — an anomaly (2) Rappler

The senator/personal assistant — an anomaly (2) Featured

Lito Monico C. Lorenzana
LML Polettiques
19 May 2021
Comments:DISQUS_COMMENTS
THIS article is a response to the feedback on my May 5 column from various social media platforms. I’ve chosen to highlight the retort of a friend, Jose “Boyet” Lim 3rd, a confidant to both President Duterte and Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (SBG), for his articulate defense of the latter. This exchange, lifted verbatim from my Facebook account, provides a certain flavor to these political sideshows.

Boyet Lim 3rd
“Piercing article, Lito. But the naïveté must be yours for failing to understand how Bong became SBG. It was the stupidity of Trillanes et al. that catapulted him to public notice and fame when the latter was hauled to that Senate investigation of the bribed and fabricated confessions of [retired PCMS Arturo ‘Arthur’] Lascañas and [Edgar] Matobato. From thereon, the ‘nobato’ that you think of SBG — the caregiver or photobomber or pushover in your mind — transformed into the man he really is, yes, loyal to a genuinely pro-people President and by extension, himself loyal to the Filipino people.

“There’s been a number of presidents with assistants larger in portrait than SBG, but none I can recall matching the teamwork between the President and now SBG that for so long has served the interest of the public, from the modest Office of the Mayor in the City Hall of Davao to the hallowed halls of the Palace. I probably can write an article longer than yours enumerating the anomalies of past presidents and their cohorts, but regardless of the circumstances, every citizen of this country, I believe, owes some reserved respect for these leaders who were chosen by the people, be they right or wrong.

“The statement you are quoting as having been said by SBG — ‘magbabago lang siguro ang isip ko kung tatakbong vice president si President Duterte’ — is a conjecture loaded with possibilities in all directions that you have singled out to mean SBG will then gun for the presidency. Yes, it was a leading statement but taking it to a singular conclusion is perhaps the likes of simpleton thinking that plunged the opposition to abysmal defeat in the last elections.

“SBG is not a caregiver to the President. He is a member of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines serving the interests of the Filipino people miles better than the stupid senators you adore. I’m guessing you too salivate to become a senator or something yourself if your Centrist Democratic Movement can swing you a miracle. But that can only happen in your perspective, dreams rather. Nevertheless, if that miracle indeed happens to the true benefit of the nation, let it be.

“By the way, a belated happy birthday to you, Lito. My warmest regards to the family.”

My response
Hi, Boyet. I thought you deserve a much longer response than the terse ones I texted you, although I really appreciate your birthday greetings and, of course, your comments on my column. And I mean it.

I am familiar with the Trillanes, Lascañas and Matobato fiasco. It was unfair to Bong Go then, even as his performance at the Senate hearing as a public figure was less than stellar — almost pathetic. But I never had any sympathy for Trillanes. But to use this incident as the transformation of Bong Go — “…into the man he really is, yes, loyal to a genuinely pro-people President and by extension himself loyal to the Filipino people” — is a little bit over the top and melodramatic even for you, don’t you think?

I appreciate your passionate defense of SBG, an admirable trait, loyally papering over his deficiencies — something that I really don’t blame him for, only when his pretensions threaten to go beyond his capabilities, that could later prove to be dangerous to the country. But if I didn’t know you better, such praises could be attributed to a Palace sycophant — and I’m certain you are not.

I’m sure you can write articles longer than mine “enumerating the anomalies of past presidents and their cohorts.” But we need not go into a childish pissing contest. My article on Bong Go and Duterte was not about anomalies but principally about a powerful person who may run for president — clearly hanging on to the coattails of one who has built a tremendously massive reputation as mayor over a period of several decades, and much worthy than him, President Duterte, suggesting coyly that the latter could be his vice president.

His explicit desire opens him up to public scrutiny. I can’t see how his statements can be conjectured any other way. He needs to run on his own merits and must display his own beliefs and acumen, particularly when challenged by his peers in the Senate, prepared to meet the clash of ideas — and not cower and hide behind his patron’s apron.

“SBG is not a caregiver to the President.” Observations of countless TV audiences of his public conduct may contradict your statement. And this is not to disparage caregivers. Theirs is a noble profession. Indeed, he is a member of the Senate, one of the three constitutionally separate branches of government. Then what is he doing at the executive department, groveling about, a permanent fixture around the President. His old title of Special Assistant to the President (SAP) cannot just be converted and mocked as Senatorial Assistant to the President. The office of senator of the land demands more respect.

And your phrase “…stupid senators you adore. I’m guessing you too salivate to become a senator or something yourself…” is an ad hominem statement that is beneath you — not worthy of comment.

Since this exchange is already public and on Facebook, I intend to reprint this in my Manila Times column, verbatim, to allow our readers to comment — perhaps we both can shape the debate for a better Philippines we both love. Personally, I know and truly like Bong Go as a decent, God-fearing and good person. But public good trumps personal considerations. The stake for the country is simply too high for one obviously ill-equipped. In our vernacular “pahinugon una nato.” And when the right time comes, I and many from Davao might even be persuaded to campaign for him — if he so desires to make himself first worthy of the Philippine presidency.

Please be assured too that this lively public exchange would only reinforce yours and my family’s long and warm relationship.

Lito Monico C. Lorenzana,
your neighbor

Addendum: 2021 presidential elections
Despite the raging pandemic, citizens are lured to the coming presidential sweepstakes eager to watch clowns, weirdos and charlatans perform, transforming Philippine elections into a freak show. This sexennial charade of unqualified “presidentiables,” vying to be anointed as the most qualified to screw the country for the next six years has assumed pornographic dimensions.

These wannabes not known for their ideological moorings nor acumen in good governance but mainly trusting on popularity and electability substitute gimmickry for political platforms bordering on the salacious, attracting the gullible public that opinion writers like us unfortunately must document. We justify our mandatory roles in this sordid display of political erotica as interpreters of the changing values of our community. By doing so, we help shape the debate.000
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