SENATOR Christopher "Bong" Go said he is still not interested in running for the presidency and that he will support the decision of the Dutertes.
"I leave my fate to God, to the Dutertes -- kung anuman ang desisyon nila (whatever the decision of) Pangulong (President) Duterte at (and) Mayor Sara [Duterte-Carpio] pagdating sa pulitika (with regards to their political plans) -- and to the Filipino people dahil sila po ang nagbigay sa akin ng pagkakataon na makapaglingkod sa kapwa at marating kung saan man po ako nandirito ngayon. Hindi ko sasayangin ito (because it is them who gave me the chance to serve our fellow men. If not for them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. I won’t let this go to waste)," Go said in a statement on Wednesday, August 25.
The long-time aide of President Rodrigo Duterte said his decision remains firm despite the recent endorsement of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party for a Go-Duterte tandem in the 2022 elections.
The party is reportedly pushing for Go to run for president and Duterte for vice president.
"Umpisa pa lang, sinabi ko na kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng mga Duterte ay suportado ko ito. Sa ngayon, antayin na lang natin ang kanilang pinal na desisyon (From the very start, I already said that whatever the decision of the Dutertes, I will support them. For now, let us wait for their final decision)," Go said.
Go said he will support Duterte-Carpio if the latter decides to run for the presidency.
He asked those pushing him to run to set aside his name as he reiterated his disinterest for a higher position.
"Lahat ng problema sinasalo ng Pangulo. Nararanasan ito ni Pangulong Duterte ngayon at nakikita ko ang hirap na pinagdadaanan niya (All of the problems are being shouldered by the President. This was experienced by President Duterte until now, and I personally saw what he is going through)," the senator said.
"Mas gugustuhin kong magtrabaho at magserbisyo sa tahimik na paraan na may resulta para sa kapakanan ng mga Pilipino (I’d rather work and serve in silence for the benefit of the Filipino)," he said.
Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said he is currently focused on addressing the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Duterte-Carpio on the same day told her father and Go to own up their decision to run as a tandem in the 2022 presidential elections.
"It was not a pleasant event. I was left with two letters endorsed to me by the President for consideration -- one note explained why I should endorse the Go-Duterte tandem and the other suggested that I take in Senator Go as my vice-president," Duterte-Carpio said.
She suggested both Duterte and Go "own up publicly their decision to run as a tandem" and stop talking about her and make her the basis on their running.
"I respectfully advise them to stop talking about me and make me the reason for them running or not running," the mayor said.
She said, "If they can confirm it privately, then I do not see the reason why they cannot be candid about it to the public."
Duterte-Carpio also said that the tandem should "simply present" to the public their platforms and how they can help the country.
Duterte, who is set to step down as president by mid-2022, had accepted the nomination for vice-president, which will be officially made when the party holds its national convention on September 8.