Senator Christopher "Bong" Go maintained on Friday, August 6, that he is not yet interested to run for president in the 2022 elections, even with the prodding of his partymates in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for him to vie for the post.
In a statement, Go thanked his colleagues in the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for their plan to endorse him as the ruling party's standard bearer, alongside President Duterte, the party's chairman, as their vice presidential bet.
On Thursday, Cusi confirmed that they agreed to push a "Go-Duterte tandem" for next year's polls.
"Uulitin ko, kung tatanungin niyo ako muli, pareho rin ang isasagot ko sa inyo: I am not interested (I will repeat, and if you will ask me again, I will give the same answer: I am not interested)," Go reiterated.
"Marahil ito ang nakikita ng partido na tandem para maipagpatuloy ang mga magagandang pagbabago na nasimulan ng administrasyong Duterte. Magsisilbi itong inspirasyon sa akin upang mas pagbutihin ko pa ang aking paninilbihan para sa sambayanang Filipino (The party may be pushing this tandem as to continue the good initiatives of the Duterte administration. This will be an inspiration for me to improve my service to Filipinos)," he said.
"But, as I have said many times before, I leave my fate to God, to the Dutertes --- kung ano man po ang kanilang magiging desisyon sa pulitika (whatever their decisions will be)," Go added.
The former special assistant to Duterte had said that he does not want to be part of any talks about the 2022 elections.
Pandemic first before politics, he repeated in his statements.
Despite this, Go also hinted on his interest on the Philippines' highest elective post, saying he will join the presidential race should Duterte decide to run for vice president.
"Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, ang makapagbabago lang ng aking desisyon na tumakbo bilang presidente ay kung si Tatay Digong ang aking magiging bise presidente. Dahil alam ko na 'yon ang magiging totoong ‘continuity’ (Like I said before, the only thing that could change my mind aboiy running for president is if Tatay Digong would be my vice president. Because I know that that would be a genuine continuity)," he claimed.
The PDP-Laban earlier urged Duterte to run for vice president and choose his running mate.
While he was initially reluctant, the President later admitted that he was “seriously thinking” about a vice presidential run to get immunity from lawsuits when he steps down next year.
Meanwhile, the Cusi-led PDP-Laban group submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, August 4, the names of the party's new officers.
The Sworn Information Update Statement (SIUS), signed by Duterte and Cusi, enumerated the officials elected during the PDP-Laban's July 17 national assembly, which the group led by Senators Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, on the other hand, refused to recognize.
Asked for comment, Pimentel hit Cusi for making public their filing of SIUS in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Politics should take a back seat. Pati pa ba filing nila ng SIUS pinapa media pa nila (Why do they even have to disclose to media their filing of SIUS)? Concentrate first on solving the pandemic in our territory," Pimentel said in a text message sent to reporters.
The SIUS is one of the Comelec's requirements for political parties and coalitions ahead of the May 9, 2022 election.