‘Why now?’: Bong Go questions timing of arrest warrant vs VP Sara

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday, September 4 questioned the timing of the issuance of an arrest warrant against Vice President Sara Duterte which stemmed from her alleged threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Bakit ngayon? Bakit ngayon yung panahon na ongoing yung impeachment? Daming panahon pa noon eh, even before the impeachment (Why now? Why now, while the impeachment is ongoing? There was plenty of time before [to arrest her]—even before the impeachment),” Go said in an interview with reporters.

“Even before the impeachment, pwede namang ma-file yan. Bakit ngayon yung timing talagang nagkatugma (That could have been filed even before the impeachment. Why did the timing happen to coincide just now)?” he pointed out.

Go made the statement a few hours after a Quezon City Regional Trial Court has issued an arrest warrant against the Vice President over her grave threats case, saying it has found probable cause to hold her for trial.

However, Go pointed out that nearly two years had already passed since the Vice President supposedly threatened members of the First Family and made such questionable statements.

“Diba nangyari po yun, that was two years ago, almost two years ago, that was November 2024, and almost two years na. Sa haba ng panahon, bakit ngayon nilabas, ngayon na-ifile, recently, timing rito na meron pang impeachment? May katanungan lang po na tumatakbo sa isipan ko yung bakit ngayon natyempo (That event took place—that was two years ago, almost two years ago; it was November 2024, so it’s been nearly two years. Given the passage of time, why is it being brought out and filed only now—recently—coinciding with the impeachment proceedings? A question keeps running through my mind: why is the timing like this)?” he further asked.

Asked if this could be considered an attempt to pressure Duterte, Go stated that the matter is already before the courts, including the Senate Impeachment Court, and that the Vice President has her own legal team.

Go said he is confident Duterte can handle the situation as she is accustomed to dealing with such matters.

“Kaya nga, no further comment na po ako (That’s why, I’d rather not comment). And I’m sure yung, may legal team naman po ang vice president. Siguro, ginagawa naman po nila ang kanilang trabaho (The vice president has her own legal team. I think they are doing their job),” he pointed out.

“Sanay naman po yun si Vice President sa mga ganong sitwasyon. Ongoing nga po yung impeachment eh. She can handle. I believe, kaya nya po po yun (The Vice President is also used to situations like that. After all, the impeachment proceedings are ongoing. She can handle it; I believe she is capable of dealing with it),” Go stressed.

— Hannah L. Torregoza