With President Rodrigo Duterte's personal endrosement, the Bong Go-Sara Duterte tandem for the 2022 national elections received the backing of 95 congressmen who attended a dinner meeting with the chief executive in Malacañang on Tuesday, Nov. 16.
DIWA Partylist Rep. Michael Aglipay said leaders of six political blocs in the Lower House rose to declare their group’s bloc to Senator Go and Mayor Duterte who are running for president and vice president, respectively.
“Lahat ng um-attend doon ay (All who were present there are) for the Sara and Bong Go tandem,” said Aglipay as he revealed that Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, a ranking officer of the dominant PDP-Laban, was first to declare support.
Duterte was direct and quick in urging his Lower House allies to support the Davao City tandem for the 2022 polls, revealed Aglipay, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
Go, who was present, stated his reluctance in running for the country’s highest post.
“Basically, Senator Bong Go said he is a reluctant candidate. Gusto lang niya mag-serbisyo (He merely wanted to serve),” said Aglipay.
The partylist lawmaker said Go also pointed out that he is a “loyal soldier” and has been in service for the last 23 years.
The pledging session took place while Mayor Duterte formally announced her decision to join former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as his running mate in the 2022 polls.
Mayor Duterte will represent Lakas-CMD in the 2022 polls while Marcos is the official candidate for president of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
In response to the chief executive’s appeal, representatives of member organizations of the Lower House majority bloc rose to pledge their respective party’s support for the Go-Duterte candidacy.
Valenzuela City Rep. Wes Gatchalian, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, vowed support for the Go-Duterte candidacy notwithstanding the fact that Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is the NPC’s official candidate for vice president.
Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento also reportedly committed the National Unity Party although party leader, former Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno is reportedly standing as campaign adviser of Reporma’s presidential bet, Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Also rising to pledge to campaign for Go and Duterte was Negros Occidental Rep. Francisco Benitez of the Visayan bloc.
Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona committed the Nacionalista Party support for Go and Duterte.
Aglipay did not mention the presence of Deputy Speaker and 1PACMAN Partylist Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero although photographs taken during the Palace meeting showed him speaking.
Romero is the president of the Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc., the second largest political bloc in the Lower House. He is a known ally of Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, who is also running for president under the Promdi Party.
According to Aglipay he spotted a Lakas-CMD congressman in the party but refused to name the solon.