Bong Go
Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Tesoro Go (born June 14, 1974) is a Filipino politician serving as a senator in the Philippines since 2019. [1][2]
A close aide to former President Rodrigo Duterte for over two decades, Go began his career in public service in 1998 as executive assistant to Duterte, then a congressman, and continued in roles including special assistant during Duterte's mayoralty in Davao City and presidency from 2016. [2]
Elected to the Senate in 2019 with approximately 21 million votes, placing third in the race, Go chairs the Senate committees on Health and Sports. [2][3]
He is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized one-stop hubs in hospitals for streamlined medical and financial aid to indigent patients, leading to over 150 centers nationwide. [4][5]
Go also authored Republic Act No. 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports to train young athletes from grassroots levels, reflecting his advocacy for sports development as a means to promote health and deter drug involvement. [6][7]
His tenure has included co-authoring laws on salary increases for government workers and other welfare measures, though he has faced scrutiny over family-linked contracting firms receiving Davao region projects during Duterte's administration. [8][9]