FILE – Mayor Inday Sara Duterte with Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go at the Hugpong ng Pagbabago event in Compostela Valley. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Citing his “devotion” to the Duterte family, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go admitted he had offered to be Sara Duterte-Carpio’s running mate if she ran for president in 2022.
“When I learned that there were some aspirants who wish to be Mayor Sara’s VP in case she runs for the presidency, I expressed my willingness to be considered in her list of choices, nagpalista lang din ako gaya ng iba (I just signed up like everybody else), knowing my devotion to the Dutertes,” Go said in a statement on Thursday.
“Kung anong pagmamahal ko sa tatay ay ganun rin sa kanyang mga anak (I value the same things for the father as I do for his children). I hope that my experience in the past two national elections and in serving her father for more than two decades can help her reach her goals for our country, regardless of what role I will take (whether as VP candidate or campaigner),” he added.
READ: Sara Duterte says Bong Go ‘personally’ offered to run as her VP
The PDP-Laban’s Cusi wing has endorsed him as its candidate for the 2020 election, with President Rodrigo Duterte as his vice president.
The senator, however, has already declined the endorsement.
READ: Bong Go rejects PDP-Laban endorsement to be presidential candidate
In his statement, Go reiterated that he has no interest in seeking the presidency in 2022.
“Of course, my intent to run as Mayor Sara’s VP only holds if she decides to run for the presidency and if President Duterte does not run for the vice presidency,” Go clarified.
“As I have said numerous times, I leave my fate to God, to the Dutertes, and to the Filipino people — kung ano po ang mapagpasiyahan nilang mag-ama ay susuportahan ko, at kung ano po ang pinaka-makakabuti sa bayan ay gagawin ko. Ipapasa-Diyos ko na po ang lahat,” he added.
(I will support what his father and his children have decided, and I will do what is best for the country. I shall give everything to God.)