Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go on Wednesday, July 21, said that President Duterte is focused on COVID-19 response and the economy even as the selection process for the 2022 national elections slowly goes into high gear.
‘’Ito muna ang pagtuunan natin ng pansin. Bakuna muna, bago ang politika (This is what we should be focusing on. Vaccination first before politics," Go said in response to a query that his partymate Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone gave a sneak preview of President Duterte’s possible senatorial bets in the 2022 elections.
Go, a former special assistant to Duterte, said there are nine Cabinet members, some reelectionists and some comebacking senators who wanted to be in the President’s tentative senatorial lineup.
‘’At mayroon din pong mga baguhang pangalan na gusto pong sumama sa Senate slate ng ating mahal na Pangulo (And there are new names who want to be included in the President’s lineup),’’ he added.
‘’As of now, wala pa pong final list. ‘Yong inilabas ni Governor Evardone, ay initial list lang po iyon base sa mga diskusyon with the party members (There is still no final list. The initial list of Governor Evardone was based on discussions with party members),’’ he added.
Based on his opinion, Go said Duterte will choose those who hew along the Chief Executive’s legislative agenda, which focuses on continuing with his original objectives when he took over Malacanang in 2016.
‘’At higit sa lahat, pipiliin niya ‘yong mga taong inuuna parati ang kapakanan ng taumbayan at yung intensyon na makapagserbisyo lalo sa sambayanang Pilipino (Foremost, the President will choose the candidates who put the interest of the people first),’’ he added.
Evardone, PDP-Laban vice president for the Visayas, had said President Duterte has discussed the initial list with some leaders of the party, including him.
On the list are Cabinet members and officials of the Duterte administration, including: Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos; Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar; Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Greco Belgica; Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III; Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II; Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles; Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo; Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque; Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade; and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.
Evardone said the President is also considering reelectionist Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri, and those eyeing a return to the chamber — House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and former senator JV Ejercito.
Media personalities Robin Padilla, Willie Revillame and Raffy Tulfo are also part of the possible lineup, he added.