Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said he hopes that the next Senate President will continue the initiatives of the Duterte administration and pass measures that prioritizes the welfare of struggling Filipinos in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Go made the call when asked about his views about the forming of the “supermajority” group and the bid of some his colleagues for the Senate leadership post in the upcoming 19th Congress.
"Isang boto lang naman po ako pero pipiliin ko po kung sino po ang makapagsusulong at makakapagpatuloy ng magagandang programa po ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte during his term (I am just one vote, but I will choose whoever will be able to pursue and continue the good programs of our President Duterte during his term),” Go said.
Go also said the next Senate president must be someone who is respected by the Filipino people and who will maintain that respect for the Senate.
"'Yung rerespetuhin po natin. Makakapagbigay po ng respeto sa amin sa Upper Chamber (Someone we can respect. Who can give respect to the Upper Chamber)," he noted.
Go also said assured that the Senate will remain independent even though a “supermajority” emerges. For one, the senator said he will continue to be a “quietly working senator.”
“Ako naman po ay miyembro ng majority but rest assured po, isang boto lang naman po ako, isang boses lang naman po ako out of the 24 senators d'yan sa Senado (I am going to be a member of the majority, but rest assured, I am just one vote. Just one voice out of the 24 senators there in the Senate),” said Go.
Asked if he has been solicited for support by a fellow senator running for Senate president, Go responded that it is unavoidable.
But he said there is no final decision that has been made and would be made until the opening of the next Senate session.
“Normal naman po ‘yung nag-uusap po ang bawat miyembro, ‘yung present members po ng 18th Congress na hindi pa natatapos ang termino. Katulad namin, kami nasa second half na (ng aming term) (That’s normal to discuss among members. The present members of the 18th Congress have yet to finish their term. Like us, we are still in the second half of our term),” said Go.
“Tapos ang mga bagong halal, nag-uusap rin. Pero wala pa pong pinal na desisyon. Antayin na lang po natin ang pagbubukas on 4th Monday po ng July, (And the newly-elected senators are also talking. But there is no final decision yet. Let’s wait for the opening of the 19th Congress on the fourth Monday of July),” he said.
Go also said he is open to still chair the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
“Sabi ko, kung saan po ako makakatulong sa mga kababayan natin lalung-lalo na sa mga mahihirap (As I said, if I can help our people especially the poor, then) I'm willing to accept the challenge,” he stressed.
Earlier, some senators disclosed that among those vying for the Senate leadership are Senators Cynthia Villar and re-elected Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.
There are also talks of Sen. Imee Marcos and incoming Senator Loren Legarda vying for the Senate President Pro Tempore position, according to Sen. Sonny Angara.