By Genalyn Kabiling
Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go prefers to serve his boss Rodrigo Duterte until death rather than run for senator in the 2019 elections.
President Rodrigo Duterte (R) and Special Assistant to the President Christopher 'Bong' Go
(Malacanang Photo/Handout via REUTERS / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President’s close aide made the latest remarks in rejecting Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s offer to join the PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate in next year’s polls.
"Ang sagot ko po sa pa-anyaya ni Speaker Alvarez: Inuulit ko po, hindi po ako interesado tumakbo sa senado sa 2019. Magsisilbi po ako kay Mayor Duterte hanggang kamatayan, kung hindi man ako mauna ,” Go said.
Go then teased Alvarez that he might change his mind if the House leader gets him as a wedding sponsor.
"Pero kung tutuparin ni Speaker Alvarez ang pangako nyang kunin akong ninong sa kasal nya, baka mag bago po isip ko [But if Speaker Alvarez fulfills his promise to get me as godfather in his wedding, I might change my mind,” he said in jest.
Alvarez earlier said he intends to convince Go to run for senator because the ruling party needs a candidate from Mindanao.
It was President Duterte who first joked about Go running for senator in light of his upcoming appearance before a Senate inquiry into the Navy’s frigate procurement deal. He said Go should grab the “golden opportunity” to face the Senate probe that may lead to his election to the upper house.