Jamaine Punzalan

Sen. Bong Go, May 1, 2025. Handout, Bong Go/Facebook

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178176731515920250517-bong-go-proclamation-HO-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Bong Go, May 1, 2025. <em>Handout, Bong Go/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Christopher Go maintained Thursday that he never violated any law and said he was leaving his fate up to God, following reports that the International Criminal Court supposedly issued a warrant for his arrest. </p><p>“Ipinagpapasa Diyos ko na lamang po ang lahat. Buong buhay ko, wala po akong nilabag na anumang batas ng tao o batas ng Diyos. Police matters have never been part of my mandate,” Go said in a statement. </p><p>“I hope and pray na hindi mapupulitika ang issue hinggil sa sinasabing ICC warrant daw laban sa akin,” he added. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/18/palace-denies-paolo-duterte-s-claim-icc-warrants-weaponized-vs-marcos-critics-0803">Palace denies Paolo Duterte’s claim ICC warrants &#x27;weaponized&#x27; vs Marcos critics</a></div><p>In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte claimed that “a highly reliable source” informed him that ICC arrest warrants against Go and two former police officers had been issued. </p><p>The interior department on Wednesday said Philippine authorities <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/remulla-pnp-say-no-official-communication-on-icc-warrants-vs-go-2-ex-cops-2156">had not received any formal notice</a> on the supposed warrant.</p><p>Go and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa were among eight current and former officials earlier named by the ICC as <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/14/what-charges-does-duterte-face-at-icc-court-releases-document-0813">alleged &quot;co-perpetrators&quot; </a>of crimes against humanity in former president Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s war on drugs. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/malaca-ang-says-upcoming-icc-arrest-warrants-vs-duterte-s-co-perpetrators-expected-1726">Malacañang says upcoming ICC arrest warrants vs. Duterte’s co-perpetrators ‘expected’ </a></div><p>Go was a close ally of Duterte during his term as mayor of Davao City and while he was president.</p><p>He previously dismissed the allegations as &quot;entirely unfounded&quot;, saying they bore &quot;no relation&quot; to his duties while serving under Duterte.</p><p>&quot;Let me be clear, at no time did I have any involvement in, knowledge of, or authority over these allegations,&quot; said Go.</p><p>Meanwhile, Dela Rosa initially sought protection from arrest in the Senate, but left its premises after a shooting incident on May 13. A former national police chief, Dela Rosa has not been seen publicly since. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/16/pnp-hopeful-of-dela-rosa-s-surrender-after-turnover-of-firearms-1524">PNP ‘hopeful’ of Dela Rosa&#x27;s surrender after turnover of firearms</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE PROTECTION?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>On Thursday, newly installed Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he had not received any information regarding the alleged warrant against Go.</p><p>Asked whether Go could seek the Senate’s protective custody from arrest, Gatchalian said, “Wala pa akong nakukuhang information na gano’n, so…it&#x27;s very difficult to preempt. Let&#x27;s wait kung totoo nga yung information na yun.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/can-a-senator-be-arrested-inside-senate-premises-here-s-what-happened-to-de-lima-trillanes-1858">Can a senator be arrested inside Senate premises? Here&#x27;s what happened to De Lima, Trillanes</a></div><p>Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV cast doubt on the younger Duterte’s claims about the supposed warrant against Go.</p><p>“Wag kayo magpapaniwala dyan kay Pulong. Wala pang ICC warrant na lumabas para kanino man,” Trillanes said on X.</p><p>“Kung may lalabas man later on, siguradong di nya malalaman yan gaya nung di nalaman ng tatay nya na may warrant na sya,” said the former senator, who in May appeared at the Senate with a copy of the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/trillanes-claims-to-have-copy-of-icc-warrant-vs-bato-dela-rosa-1646">Trillanes claims to have copy of ICC warrant vs. Bato dela Rosa</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/icc-confirms-arrest-warrant-against-dela-rosa-2111">ICC confirms arrest warrant against Dela Rosa</a></div><p>Reports of the supposed fresh ICC warrants come ahead of the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/duterte-s-icc-trial-to-start-november-30-2028">Nov. 30 start of ex-President Duterte’s trial.</a></p><p>Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018 during his so-called &quot;war on drugs&quot;.</p><p>The 81-year-old will be the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the world&#x27;s worst crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/6/13/icc-chamber-orders-medical-exam-for-duterte-ahead-of-november-trial-0801">ICC chamber orders medical exam for Duterte ahead of November trial</a></div><p>The Philippines left the ICC in 2019, on Duterte&#x27;s instructions, but the court has ruled that it still has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed there between 2011 and 2019.</p><p>Duterte &quot;absolutely&quot; maintains his innocence, his former defence lawyer Nicolas Kaufman told the court in February.</p><p>Kaufman told ICC judges the evidence against Duterte was &quot;wholly insufficient&quot; and the charges &quot;grievously misplaced and politically motivated&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/6/icc-registry-sets-digital-workflow-redaction-rules-for-duterte-trial-0214">ICC Registry sets digital workflow, redaction rules for Duterte trial</a></div><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Sen. Christopher Go maintained Thursday that he never violated any law and said he was leaving his fate up to God, following reports that the International Criminal Court supposedly issued a warrant for his arrest.</p>

Sen. Christopher Go maintained Thursday that he never violated any law and said he was leaving his fate up to God, following reports that the International Criminal Court supposedly issued a warrant for his arrest.

Bong Go maintains innocence, leaves alleged ICC warrant ‘up to God’

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Bong Go maintains innocence, leaves alleged ICC warrant ‘up to God’

Jamaine Punzalan,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 18, 2026 03:22 PM PHT

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Updated June 18, 2026 04:00 PM PHT

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Bong Go

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