Saying he does not want President Duterte, whom he loves as a father, to be caught in the middle in his support for national candidates, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go announced on Tuesday he was withdrawing from the presidential race, and was leaving his fate to God.
Waxing emotional on the sidelines at the November 30 commemoration rites for Andres Bonifacio’s birth anniversary at San Juan City’s Pinaglabanan Shrine, Go said: “Ayaw ko ring maipit si Pangulong Duterte. Higit pa sa tatay ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya. Matanda na po siya at marami na rin siyang naibigay para sa bayan, ayaw ko na pong dagdagan pa ang kanyang problema. Nananatili akong tapat sa kanya at nangako akong sasamahan ko po siya habambuhay (I don’t want President Duterte caught in the middle because I love him as a father. He is old and has given much to the country. I don’t want to add to his burdens. I will remain loyal to him and I vow to be with him forever).”
Go initially filed his candidacy for vice president under PDP Laban, as running mate to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, but on the deadline for withdrawals and substitutions, he withdrew his VP COC and subsequently filed for President under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party, with no less than President Duterte accompanying him to Comelec. The latter also filed his candidacy for senator under PDDS.
Duterte had made it clear he was fully supporting Go’s bid for the presidency, even as he showed his disapproval of Go’s rival, Partido Federal’s Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in whose favor Duterte’s daughter Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio slid down to VP position – much to her father’s chagrin.
Four parties have united behind the Bongbong-Sara Uniteam, as the tandem is called.
Family opposed
On Tuesday, Go revealed that even his family opposed his move to seek the presidency.
“Ayaw rin talaga ng pamilya ko, kaya naisip ko na siguro ay hindi ko pa panahon ngayon. Diyos lang ang nakakaalam kung kailan ang tamang panahon,” he said. (My family doesn’t want it either so I thought maybe this is not my time yet. Only God knows when is the right time).”
In a statement, Go said: “Many times in our life, we are called upon to serve others but destiny has a way of turning things around. Just like the great Andres Bonifacio — the President who never was.”
He added that “Bonifacio had every great opportunity to lead our country as our President after leading a revolutionary movement that started our quest for liberty. But destiny had something different for him.”
Go revealed how he had wrestled with his decision the past several days, but was now leaving his fate to God and to the Filipino people.
Speaking mostly in Filipino, he continued, “There is some resistance within my body, heart, and mind. I am only human and I get tired.”
Underscoring his reasons for withdrawing from the race, Sen. Go, who had served as Duterte’s most trusted aide and confidante since his two decades as Davao’s mayor, said, “I am willing to make the supreme sacrifice for the good of our country and for the sake of unity among our supporters,” whose understanding he sought.
Responding to Go’s reported withdrawal from the presidential race, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the Comelec Law Department currently has no authority to accept any filings, considering that the day the former declared his withdrawal, Tuesday, November 30 is a holiday. (With additional reporting by Samuel P. Medenilla)