Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he is proud to have been part of the Duterte administration which succeeded in keeping most of its campaign promises to the public.
Go, who worked as Special Assistant to the President before becoming a senator, said he is grateful for the Filipinos’ support for Duterte, who was able to retain a high approval and trust rating from the time he was sworn in as president until he stepped down from office.
“At ako naman po ay (And I am) proud; I can proudly say being part of this administration ay nakakataba ng puso na after six years ay ‘yung pinangako niyang pagbabago sa ating bayan ay halos natupad naman po niya lahat (it’s heartwarming to know that after six years, he was able to fulfill almost all of his promises of change in our nation),” Go said during an interview after attending the inauguration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last Thursday, June 30.
Go further noted how the Filipinos were eager and anticipating for Duterte’s arrival in Malacañang in 2016. The same eagerness from the people were seen when he left the Palace last Thursday and when he returned to his hometown in Davao City.
“Alam niyo, siya lang talaga ‘yung nakita kong nanilbihan na presidente na talagang pinasasalamatan dahil nakita niyo naman po ang resulta ng ginawa niya para sa ating bayan. Kayo na po ang humusga (You know, he is the only president who served the country whom the people truly thanked because they saw the results of what he has done for the nation. It’s up to you to judge),” said Go.
Nevertheless, Go said he is ready to support the incoming Marcos administration’s efforts, saying he can sense the new president’ sincerity in wanting to carry on the initiatives of the Duterte administration.
“Bilang senador at nakita ko naman po ‘yung sincerity ng bagong Pangulo na ipagpatuloy ‘yung mga magagandang programa ni Pangulong Duterte na makakabuti po. Kasama rin po ako sa sinabi niya kanina na ‘yung pangarap ng bawat Pilipino ay pangarap din niya (As a senator, I can see the sincerity of the new President to pursue the programs of President Duterte. I am also one with his goal that the Filipinos’ dreams are also his own),” Go said.
“At gano’n rin po ako dahil pinapangarap ko rin po na magkaroon po ng isang mas komportableng buhay ang bawat Pilipino lalung-lalo na po ‘yung mga mahihirap (That is also my aspiration, to give each Filipino a chance to live a comfortable life especially the poor),” he stressed.
Duterte left Malacañang last Thursday, with the Marcos Jr. seeing him off before going to the National Museum for his inauguration.
That same day, Duterte returned to Davao City, his home town, as a private citizen.