Bong Go attends OFW event with Duterte in Hong Kong amid ICC arrest rumors

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As of this posting, it remains unclear whether Senator Bong Go is still in Hong Kong or has already returned to Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Reelectionist Senator Bong Go attended former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “thanksgiving” event with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and campaign sortie in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, amid reports of an arrest warrant related to Duterte’s controversial drug war, which is under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Duterte campaign team initially confirmed to Rappler on Sunday that both Go and reelectionist Senator Bato dela Rosa were in Hong Kong. However, upon further clarification, they said that only Go attended the event, while Dela Rosa delivered his message via video. Both senators were key figures in the former president’s drug war campaign.

Duterte’s team’s trip to Hong Kong, a Chinese special administrative region, fueled social media speculation that the former president was evading a potential ICC arrest warrant, given that China is not a member of the court and Chinese President Xi Jinping is a “friend.”

Rappler repeatedly asked Go’s office about his return to the Philippines but was only told they would provide “updates later” without a specific timeline. As of this posting, it remains unclear whether Go was still in Hong Kong or has already returned to Manila.

Before becoming a senator, Go was Rodrigo’s longtime aide, serving him since 1998 when he was still the representative of Davao City’s 1st District. Go became special assistant to the president in 2016 after Rodrigo assumed the presidency.

In an October 2024 House inquiry, retired police colonel Royina Garma alleged that Go coordinated with National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo to establish a system offering cash incentives to police officers for each drug suspect on the drug list killed. Go has denied the allegation, refuting the existence of the alleged reward system.

As for the whereabouts of Dela Rosa, his team has not responded to queries regarding the matter.

Dela Rosa is named in the affidavit of self-confessed hitman Arturo Lascañas as a core member of the notorious Davao Death Squad (DDS), which is also part of the ICC’s investigation. Lascañas, who has been offered limited immunity by the ICC, wrote in the affidavit that Dela Rosa later formed his own death squads, which led to the creation of the anti-drug war campaign Oplan Tokhang.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said that Sara would return to Philippines this week, but did not give a definite time.

The OVP said that Sara will attend the Araw ng Dabaw festivities slated on March 16 to 17. – Rappler.com