A few hours after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced she is withdrawing her certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection, vice presidential candidate Senator Christopher “Bong” Go confirmed there would be changes in the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban’s (PDP-Laban) candidates in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
An emotional Go confirmed this in a speech during his visit to Antipolo City on Tuesday, Nov. 9, saying he has been campaigning as a vice presidential candidate of the ruling political party for 38 days but said there might be sudden changes in their party’s candidates.
“Maaring may magbabago sa mga tatakbong posisyon sa mga darating na araw, ang problema po dyan kailangan umiwas. Gustuhin ko man pong magsilbi sa inyo bilang bise presidente dahil sa kagustuhan ng mahal na pangulo, kailangan ko pong umiwas (There may be changes in the next few days on candidate positions, the problem is I need to avoid something. I wanted to serve you as vice president because it was what the President wants but I need to avoid it),” Go said.
“Malalaman niyo po sa mga darating na araw (You will know about it in the next few days),” he added.
Duterte-Carpio has been floated as the PDP-Laban’s possible standard bearer or vice presidential bet in the upcoming May 2022 national elections.
Presidential candidate Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa earlier said he is willing to wait until November 15, the deadline for the substitution of candidates to ascertain if he will continue his bid.
Dela Rosa has repeatedly said he is willing to give way to the President’s daughter should she decide to run for president.
Go, in his speech, promised to still serve the country even as an ordinary citizen.
“Kung kailangan kong umiwas, wala po akong magagawa. Pero it lang po ang maipapangako ko sa inyo, kahit kapitan, kahit ordinaryong tao lang po ako, patuloy po ako magseserbisyo sa ating bansa (If I need to avoid it, I have no choice. But this is the only thing I can promise you, even if I am just a village captain, or as ordinary citizen, I will continue to serve our country),” Go said.