SPECIAL Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go still has to decide whether he will run for senator in the 2019 mid-term elections.
In a phone patch interview during the launching of the Bayan for Bong Go (B4BG) Movement on Monday, April 9, Go thanked all his supporters but said that he still needs to focus first on his tasks as special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte.
"Bigyan ninyo po ako ng kaunting panahon. Marami pa akong gagawin na trabaho. Sana maintindihan ninyo. Pero pagdating ng panahon, mag-di-decide po ako," Go said.
(Please give me more time. I still have a lot of work to do. I hope you understand. When the time comes, I will make a decision.)
Go said he was hopeful that by the time he decides whether he will run for senator in 2019 or not, his supporters would still be there for him.
He also thanked them for their endless support to Duterte.
Go could not physically attend the event because he is with Duterte in China.
Over 1,000 supporters from various national and local government agencies attended the launching of the B4BG and urged Go to run for senator in the upcoming mid-term elections.
The B4BG is a “grassroots volunteer organization” which aims to convince Go to run for a senate post. It is spearheaded by barangay leaderships.
Barangay leaders believe that as a powerful and loyal ally to the president, Go could definitely help bring development and progress to the 42,000 barangays in the Philippines.
Assistant Secretary for Presidential Communications Office and founder of the 1Barangay Loukee Avila, in an interview, said Go will definitely push for the implementation and success of the plans and programs of Duterte for the country.
Isabela Provincial Barangay Affairs consultant Faustino "Inno" Dy, in a separate interview, echoed the same response. He said Go, along with Duterte, is one of the personalities who helped the province recover from disaster last 2016.
"Nakita namin paano niya ibinulong kay presidente (kung ano ang pangangailangan ng mga magsasaka) at nautusan ang Department of Agriculture (DA) na tugonan yung aming problema. Nabigyan kaagad ito ng tulong," Dy recalled.
He said he and the people of the Isabela believe that Go deserves a seat in the Senate, as he has the heart for people, particularly to those who are in need.
Davao City Councilor and Philippine Councilors League (PCL) National chairman Danilo Dayanghirang, in a speech, said the public certainly needs someone in the Senate who can support Duterte in his plans and programs for the Filipino.
"Alam ni SAP Go kung ano ang problema sa bansa at kung paano su-supportahan ang ating pangulo. You cannot find another person like Bong Go," Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Martin Diño said.
The launching of B4BG was attended by barangay officials from Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa as well as from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm). Government officials from Davao City were also present.