Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday said he is not ruling out withdrawing from the presidential race in the 2022 elections and admitted he actually has no ambition to become President.
In an interview before he gave out assistance to fire victims in a barangay in Quezon City, Go said he is ready to sacrifice for the Filipino people, and more importantly for President Rodrigo Duterte and his family, his longtime boss from their days in Davao City.
He admitted he wasn’t prepared for his presidential candidacy but followed the decision of the ruling party, who initially slotted Go as a vice-presidential candidate before Duterte urged him to run for president instead.
“Habang natutulog po ako, habang nanaginip po ako, nahihirapan po ako. nahirapan po ako sa nararamdaman ko, to be honest with you (When I sleep, while I dream, I find it hard to wrestle with my feelings),” Go said.
“Ngunit sa totoo lang po, nagre-resist ang aking utak, puso at aking katawan. Nabigla po ako dito sa pagtakbo, napakahirap po ng aking sitwasyon (In truth, my mind, heart and body are resisting this. I was surprised by this candidacy, my situation is so hard,” he said.
“So hindi ko napaghandaan ang kandidatura bilang pangulo (I have not prepared for my candidacy as president),” Go added.
The senator is the standard-bearer of the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party via substitution, as the Commission on Elections continues to resolve the rift in the ruling PDP-Laban, which is split into factions headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Still, Go insisted that he knew the job of a President, being beside Duterte over the last five years even as he was elected to the Senate in 2019
“I’ve been there sa tabi ni Pang. Duterte, alam ko po ang problema, alam ko po ang solution. Part po ako ng solution (I know the solution, I’m part of the solution),” he said.
Go clarified that while he resolved to serve the public, being President is a different matter, thus his thoughts of withdrawing from the race.
“Iniisip ko pa ng mabuti, nag-aantay po ako ng sign sa Panginoon. Kung sa tingin niya dito ka na lang Bong, susundin ko po. At siempre ang mga Pilipino (I have been thinking about it, asking for a sign from the Lord. If He says I’m only up to here, I will follow Him. And of course, our fellow Filipinos),” he said.