Bong Go denies rift with Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bong Go on Thursday denied having any rift with presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

This, after Duterte-Carpio advised her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, and Go not to drag her name in making a decision on whether or not to run in the elections next year.

“Nagkakausap kami ni Mayor Sara. Wala kaming isyu sa isa’t isa,” Go said in statement.

(Mayor Sara and I have spoken. We have no issue with one another.)

“Kung anong pagmamahal ko sa tatay ganun din ang pagmamahal ko sa mga anak. Alam ni Pangulong Duterte yan,” he added.

(My love for the father is the same love I have for the children. President Duterte knows that.)

“Nangako ako sa kanya na sasamahan ko siya habang-buhay. At isa sa mga ipinagbilin niya sa akin ay huwag ko pababayaan ang mga anak niya kung wala na siya sa mundong ito,” the senator further said.

(I made a promise to him that I will be by his side for life. And one of the things he told me is that I should take care of his children when he passes.)

Go was a long-time aide of Duterte before becoming a senator in 2019.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Davao mayor said her father “personally confirmed” to her his decision to vie for the second-highest post, with Go as his president.

The President recently said he will run for the second highest post in 2022 unless his daughter vies for the presidency.

Go, who is being endorsed to run for president as a running mate to Duterte, will also drop any possible presidential bid should Duterte-Carpio decide to run.

The Davao mayor, however, advised Duterte and Go should “stop talking about me and make me the reason for them running or not running.”

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