After COC withdrawal, leftist groups say Duterte, Go’s 2022 bids ‘merely for leverage’

MANILA, Philippines — Leftist groups and leaders have claimed that it is now clear that President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go’s attempt to run in the 2022 polls was nothing but a source of leverage for other parties making a bid in the upcoming elections.

According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes, the withdrawal of their certificates of candidacy — Go seeking the presidency and Duterte eyeing a Senate seat — was not even a surprise.

“It seems that the Bong Go and Rodrigo Duterte candidacies for the 2022 polls were merely intended as leverage so that the outgoing regime can gain some concessions from other parties,” Reyes said in a message to reporters on Tuesday, shortly after Duterte went to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to formalize the withdrawal.

“Their withdrawal is not at all surprising given the Duterte regimes penchant for horse-trading and maneuvering,” he added.

Presidential aspirant and known labor leader Leody de Guzman said in a separate statement that there would be several speculations that would arise from Duterte’s decision, but the most important thing is that their speculations — that the administration is using the candidacy as a leverage — were confirmed.

“Tiyak marami na namang susulpot na spekulasyon kung bakit inatras ni Duterte ang kanyang kandidatura. Ang mahalaga ay ‘wag tayo magpalito o magpadala sa kanilang telenovela,” de Guzman said.

(For sure, many speculations about why Duterte withdrew his candidacy would surface.  But what’s important is that we do not get confused, or we do not get caught up in their telenovela.)

“Klaro sa atin na ang lahat ng aksyon na ginagawa ng pamilyang Duterte ay nakabatay sa layunin nilang umiwas sa pananagutan sa kanilang mga krimen at sa pagprotekta ng kanilang kapangyarihan at kinamal na yaman,” he added.

(It is clear to us that all the actions being done by the Duterte family is geared towards their objective of avoiding responsibility for all the crimes and to protect their political clout and ill-gotten wealth.)

Makabayan’s senatorial candidate Elmer Labog on the other hand thinks it is also a proof of Duterte’s waning popularity, despite what some of his supporters may suggest.

“Mukhang nararamdaman na rin ni Duterte ang nararamdaman namin dati pa: Na hindi na siya kasing-lakas gaya dati, laos at bulo na si Duterte. Hindi na siya makapagpanggap na para sa pagbabago,” Labog said on a Facebook post.

(It seems Duterte felt what we have sensed long ago: that his appeal and reach is not as strong as before, because he is a rotten politician already.  He can no longer pretend that he is for change.)

“Mismong partido nyang PDP-Laban, nahati at ngayon ay wala halos natirang kandidato. Nilaos, sinira at binulok na rin ni Duterte.  Wala talagang forever sa mga diktador at masasama,” he added.

(His own political party, PDP-Laban itself, was divided and have no remaining political candidates.  The party was destroyed and made rotten by Duterte also.  There is really no forever with dictators and bad officials.)

Just before Tuesday noon, Go went to Comelec’s office to formally withdraw his candidacy for president.  This came a month after he substituted for the presidential bid, as he filed his certificate of candidacy as a vice presidential bet.

Then before 5:00 p.m., it was Duterte’s turn to visit Comelec and withdraw his senatorial bid.  Prior to that, Duterte was running for vice president, which set-up a collision course with her daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who is running for the same post.

INQUIRER.net has sought Senator Go’s comment on these claims, but he has not replied as of posting time.

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