Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Tesoro Go first rose to popularity as a “photobomber” in pictures with former President Rodrigo Duterte. Born in Davao City, he has served as Duterte’s aide for two decades and has been a senator for over six years now.
Will he add another three years to his term? Here’s everything you need to know about Go and where he stands on key political issues.
Current position: Senator (since 2019), Chair of the Senate Youth Committee (since 2024), Chair of the Senate Health and Demography Committee (since 2019), Chair of the Senate Sports Committee (since 2019)
Education: BS Marketing from Ateneo de Davao University
Previous occupations: First Special Assistant to the President (June 2016 – October 2018), Muntinlupa Cagers shooting guard (2018 – 2019), Executive assistant to Rodrigo Duterte (1998 – 2016)
Affiliated parties: PDP-Laban, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan
Political Stances
Governance
In July and August 2024, former Senator Sonny Trillanes filed graft and plunder charges against Go and Duterte, over an allegedly anomalous P16 billion frigate acquisition during Duterte’s term as president. Go denied the allegation, calling it “black propaganda,” according to The Philippine Star.
Go was one of 17 senators to approve a measure taxing and legalizing Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in 2021. However, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ban on POGOs, he expressed his opposition to POGOs.
Being an ally of the Duterte political family, Go has not publicly given his stance on political dynasties and anti-dynasty legislation.
Economy
Early in 2024, Go co-authored a bill to raise the daily minimum wage by P100 across the country amid accelerating inflation rates at the time. He is also a proponent of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Program, which is “designed as a governmental stimulus to encourage the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises across the nation,” according to the Senate.
Human Rights & Social Justice
Go has not yet publicly expressed his views on issues like the divorce bill, indigenous rights, and red-tagging. However, he was supportive of the Duterte administration’s notorious drug war, telling reporters in October 2024 that many benefitted from the former president’s campaign against illegal drugs.
In July 2019, he co-authored a bill proposing to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes and crimes involving illegal drugs.
In an ABS-CBN News report, Go said that while he supported the LGBTQ+ community, he said that he had to review a proposed same-sex union bill to see if many would be accepting of the measure.
Healthcare
Go is one of the proponents of the Malasakit Centers, which are “one-stop shops” for three agencies: PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The Malasakit Centers provide medical assistance, which covers hospitalization expenses, medicine costs, and laboratory and diagnostic tests. According to its 2022 accomplishment report, it served 5,425 beneficiaries across 163 centers nationwide.
Go has also expressed support for other healthcare initiatives, such as PhilHealth’s inclusion of dental services in its benefit packages, the Department of Health’s removal of the senior citizens’ medicine booklet requirement for discounts, and the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS)’s work to promote maternal health.
At the beginning of the 19th Congress in July 2022, he filed several healthcare-related bills, which seek to provide free annual medical check-ups and dialysis, establish an emergency medical services system, establish the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, provide benefits and compensation to Barangay Health Workers, and establish Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers nationwide.
National Security & Foreign Policy
In November 2019, Go called China’s demand to remove Philippine vessels from Ayungin Shoal “unacceptable,” and emphasized respect for the “rule of law” on both sides of the ongoing territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.
With regards to the International Criminal Court’s probe of Duterte’s war on drugs, Go backed Marcos’ assertion that the ICC has “no jurisdiction” over the Philippines, adding that the country has a “strong, independent judicial system.”
When United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Irene Khan called on the Philippine government to repeal the Anti-Terror Law, which has been wrongfully used to red-tag those who’ve expressed dissenting opinions on the government. Go said that the country’s counter-insurgency laws have safeguards to “ensure that they are not abused” by officials, and that Khan should “stop meddling in our affairs.”
Environment & Disaster Preparedness
Go has urged the government to crack down on illegal mining and logging, stating in a November 2020 ambush interview that implementing strict measures against these practices are crucial to protecting communities that live near mountains. In November 2024, he also said that measures against illegal mining and logging can help mitigate disasters related to natural calamities like flooding — especially in Mindanao, where he comes from.
In the same month, he proposed a bill that would establish the Department of Disaster Resilience, which would concern itself with “disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.”
Disinformation
In June 2020, Go responded to a Meta statement on the proliferation of disinformation and dummy accounts on its social media platform, Facebook. Go said, “Mapaparusahan ang mga nagkakalat ng fake news dahil sa paglabag ng batas. Sisiguraduhin namin na mapanagot kayo sa mga kalokohang ginagawa ninyo.” However, he has neither initiated nor backed any measures or policies to address disinformation in the country.
Infrastructure Development
Go was actively involved in the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, which consisted of 119 infrastructure projects nationwide. Only 12 of these projects were accomplished by the end of Duterte’s term, including LRT and MRT line extensions and rehabilitation, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), provincial roads and highways, and provincial airports.
In May 2023, Go filed the Infrastructure Flagship Programs and Projects Bill, which aims to pick up where the BBB program left off and “establish a comprehensive framework to accelerate the attainment of the infrastructure flagship programs and projects of the national government.”
Youth & Culture
In January 2025, Go clarified that his endorsement of the anti-adolescent pregnancy bill was merely a formality, as he chairs the Senate’s health committee. He emphasized promoting and protecting the “physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being” of the youth in a way that is “reflective of our culture and morals as God-fearing people.”
He co-authored education laws like the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act, the No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act — letting students with unpaid school fees take exams — the Free College Entrance Examinations Act, and the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.
He also co-authored an act strengthening the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, adding to its provisions a requirement that local government units identify and record all cultural assets within their jurisdiction.
Sara Duterte Impeachment
Go has not publicly expressed support of or opposition to Congress’ move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of Rodrigo Duterte.
