Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go confirmed on Monday afternoon, Nov. 15 the senatorial bid of President Duterte.
Go, the newly-minted standard-bearer of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), gave this confirmation via text message to reporters.
This was yet another swerve in the poltical plans of Duterte, who just a few days ago was planning to file his candidacy for vice president, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar.
Before this, Duterte said last October that he would retire from politics once his term in Malacañang ends on June 30, 2022.
A vice presidential run for the 76-year-old Chief Executive would pit him against his own daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in the upcoming May 2022 polls.
"Kung ako lang tatanungin, ayaw ko din na VP ang i-file nya (If you were to ask me, I also wouldn't want him to file for VP)," Go told reporters.
"Ayaw ko magkasakitan pa. Tama na ako na lang ang nasaktan. Mataas respeto ko kay Pangulo at sa kanyang pamilya. Sana senador na i-file niya (I don't want to see people hurt each other. It's enough that I'm the one hurt. I have high respect for the President and his family. I hope he instead files for senator)," Go added.
Asked if the elder Duterte would indeed run for a Senate seat, Go said, "Opo (Yes)."
Monday is the last day for the substitution of the election aspirants.
Go, the longtime aide and friend of President Duterte, originally filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president.
After Duterte-Carpio made moves toward a run for a national position, Go substituted fellow Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa as their party's presidential bet.
PDP-Laban president, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi, was the first to suggest a Senate run for President Duterte, but the latter hardly addressed this publicly.