Go says Duterte hasn’t picked anyone yet to support for president

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has not yet decided who he will endorse among the presidential aspirants for the 2022 national elections, Senator Bong Go said.

Go told reporters on Friday that as of Thursday night — the last time he spoke with the President — no aspirant has been named yet.

“I cannot speak in behalf of the President dahil as of last night, sabi niya, wala po siyang napipili pa.  Oo, wala naman siyang napili pa as of last night,” he said in an ambush interview.

(Because as of last night he hasn’t picked one yet.)

As to reports that Malacañang has already lent some of Palace staff to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s campaign team, Go said it is not true.

However, he also clarified that he and Duterte have no control over the decision of government officials, saying that they are allowed to make their own decisions.

“That’s not true, wala pong gano’ng balita,” Go said when asked about staffers being sent to Moreno’s campaign.  “Ako po’y nag-aantay kay Pangulong Duterte kung sino po ‘yong susuportahan niya.  This is democracy, ‘di naman natin mapigilan ‘yong iba kung sino’ng gusto nilang suportahan.”

(There is no news of that. I am still awaiting who the President will support.)

“Papunta na tayo sa eleksyon, patapos na po ‘yong termino ni Pangulong Duterte, hindi na namin mapipigilan ‘yong iba d’yan kung aalis na sila sa trabaho, meron na silang susuportahan for their own survival, hindi na po namin kontrolado ‘yan,” he added.

(Let’s go to the elections, the term of the President is about to end, we cannot stop everyone to leave their job and support their own candidate for their survival, that is beyond our control.)

Just this Monday, Moreno — Aksyon Demokratiko’s presidential aspirant — was quoted saying that he will vote for Duterte, who is running for senator in the 2022 polls.

Moreno even said that he would be open to include Duterte in his senatorial slate, if the Chief Executive wants it.

READ: Isko Moreno: I’ll vote for Pres. Duterte as senator, endorse him too, if he agrees 

Moreno said he was hopeful that he would get Duterte’s blessings, especially after Go announced his intention to step away from the presidential race.

READ: Isko Moreno ‘hopeful’ of getting Duterte’s backing as Bong Go withdraws 

As of now, it is not clear whom Duterte will endorse, even as his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is running for vice president under former senator Bongbong Marcos’ team.

The President previously backed Go, but his possible withdrawal leaves his party PDP-Laban without a standard bearer.

READ: Bong Go withdraws from presidential race; PDP-Laban now without standard-bearer 

The older Duterte during the last month made scathing remarks and references to Marcos — from being not as bright as the latter’s father, late dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos, and for being allegedly pro-communist.

READ: Duterte takes jab at Bongbong Marcos anew, calls him ‘weak leader’ 

READ: Bongbong’s camp shrugs off Duterte’s taunts 

Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson who is also running for president said that he is open to the possibility that Duterte endorses him, but noted that he would not seek for it.

READ: Lacson open for Duterte endorsement, but won’t seek it 

For Go, he would support whoever can continue Duterte’s programs.

JPV