SENATOR OF THE

PHILIPPINES
BONG GO
Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Tesoro Go 

Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Tesoro Go (Tagalog: [bɔŋ ˈɡɔ]; born

June 14, 1974) is a Filipino politician serving as a Senator since
2019. He previously served in the Cabinet of President 
Rodrigo Duterte as Special Assistant to the President and 
Head of the Presidential Management Staff from June 2016 to
October 2018.[1][2] Go has served as the personal aide and special
assistant to Duterte since 1998, back when Duterte was still mayor of 
Davao City.[3][4]
He also currently chairs the Senate committee on health and
demography
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

• Go was born on June 14, 1974, to a Chinese Filipino family.[6][7] He is the son of

Davao-based businessman Desiderio Go[8] and Batangas-native Marichu Tesoro-
Go.[9] He is a grandson of August Tesoro, who founded one of the largest 
printing companies in Davao City.[10]
• Go attended La Salle Green Hills during his high school years. He initially took up
a management degree in De La Salle University but transferred to and eventually
graduated from Ateneo de Davao University with a bachelor's degree in
marketing
CAREER

• Duterte's aide (1998–present)

• Since 1998, Bong Go has served as executive assistant and personal aide for
then-Mayor of Davao City Rodrigo Duterte. Being in charge of both personal and
official matters, he has called himself as Duterte's all around 'utility man'.[13][14]
• During the 2016 election campaign season, Go was often described as the
"national photobomber" by the media, for being always in the photos at the side
of Duterte in his campaign sorties.[15] He is one of the key people in 
Duterte's campaign for presidency. On October 15, 2015, Go filed Duterte's
certificate of candidacy on Duterte's behalf at the Comelec office in Manila, for a
re-election bid for the Davao City mayoralty post.
 SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT (2016–2018)

• Then President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on June 2, 2016, announced the appointment of Christopher

Go as the Special Assistant to the President and is tasked to provide general supervision to the
Presidential Management Staff.[17]
• During his time as Special Assistant to the President, his alleged involvement in the 
Philippine Navy's ₱16 billion frigate deal was revealed by online news site Rappler. Pertinent
documents that linked Bong Go to the deal, detailing how he had interfered with the process,
violating several procurement laws when he endorsed a supplier outside the bidding process were
released to the public.[18] Bong Go denied the allegations, declaring that he would resign if ever he
was proven guilty and claimed that the media and his critics are endangering national security.[19]
 Vice Admiral Mercado of the Philippine Navy, who was allegedly sacked for questioning the frigate
deal, has cleared Go of any involvement, claiming that Go had never communicated with those
who were involved in the deal.[20] Duterte defended Go, saying that "he owns a yacht, therefore he
doesn't need to steal in the frigate deal".[21] The Malacañang also made their stand clear that Bong
Go did not intervene.[22] A probe by the Senate regarding the deal was made, but did no further
clarifications about Go's role on the deal
• During his time as Special Assistant to the President, he became known for selfies he posted online, saying he
values these images as part of his "personal collection".
SENATOR (2019–PRESENT)

• Bong Go made a formal bid for the Senate on October 15, 2018, when he filed
his certificate of candidacy accompanied by President Rodrigo Duterte and other
members of the president's Cabinet. Go's platform for his Senate bid includes
pledges to build healthcare and social service facilities dubbed as "Malasakit
Centers" across the Philippines as well as the repeal of the Juvenile Justice law
which sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15 years old. Doubts about his
capability to conduct a nationwide campaign was countered by President Duterte,
noting that the Tesoros, Go's mother's family, own one of the largest printing firms
in Mindanao
• Even before his formal filing of candidacy, Go has already been subject of allegations of
premature campaigning.[28][29][30][31] In relief operations after a fire in Manila, relief goods
with "Ready Set Go" branding were distributed alongside government relief goods
provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Go has repeatedly
denied that he was personally involved in the production or distribution of any
merchandise, once citing his supporters as producing them without his consent[32] and
on one occasion said that it was done under the President's directive.[33] He also urged
his supporters to stopped "politicizing" their cause by using his name and likeness. Calls
for tarpaulins bearing his image to be removed had made the rounds in social media
• After the election, Go garnered roughly 21 million votes and was sworn into office
after placing 3rd overall, he officially took his seat in the Senate beginning his
term on June 30, 2019. On his first months in office, Go had filed several bills
including creating a Department of Disaster Resilience,[35] the postponement of
the 2020 Sangguniang Kabataan elections on the barangay level,[36] and a bill co-
authored with fellow Senator Manny Pacquiao pushing a death penalty back for
heinous crimes such as illegal drugs, plunder, rape, and murder
• In 2019, Go authored the Malasakit Center Act, which meant to serve as one-stop
for easy access to medical and financial assistance needed to receive health
care services.[38] Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Go proposed the Balik Probinsya
 program, which meant to decongest the overcrowded Metro Manila once the
coronavirus pandemic is put under control.[39] The program was institutionalized
by President Duterte on May 6 via Executive Order No. 114
• On July 17, 2020, Go was involved in a controversy when a college student was
filed a subpoena order by the NBI after Bong Go complained of the student
sharing a post on social media possibly containing fake news which were against
the Senator.[42]
• On October 29, 2021, Go led the opening of the country's 146th Malasakit Center
at the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center in Las Piñas City
— reaching a milestone for the said program being the 30th in Metro Manila and
the first in the city.