MANILA -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte will fully support Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go “to the hilt” if he decides to join the senatorial race in the 2019 midterm elections, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Wednesday.
Andanar made the statement during the launch of a movement dubbed as "Ready, Set, Go," to persuade Go to run for senator held at Illustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila.
“Ito po ang sinabi ni presidente (This was what the President said) and I quote verbatim: ‘I will support Bong Go to the hilt’,” Andanar said.
Through a phone patch presented before the audience during the event, Go said it is too early to discuss if he is running for a senatorial post in 2019, noting that he would just continue focusing on his work as the President’s aide and serving the people.
“Masyadong maaga pa po para mapag-usapan ang pulitika at sana po ay naiintindihan niyo ako. Marami pa po akong tungkulin at trabahong dapat gawin para kay Pangulo at sa mga kapatid nating mga Pilipino (It is too early to talk politics and I hope you understand. I have a lot of work to do and the job I do for the President and for our Filipino brethren),” Go said.
“Hindi naman po ako politiko at kung sakali po ay unang beses ko po itong sasabak. Pero ang pwede ko lang pong ipagmalaki ay ang 20 taon kong karanasan sa pagserbisyo sa aking kapwa at katungkulan sa aking pangulo, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (I'm not a politician and, if ever, this will be the first time I'll enter politics. But what I can always be proud of is my 20 year-experience in serving our fellow Filipinos and my duty to our president, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte),” he added.
Go pledged to serve Duterte all his life wherever he may be.
“Hindi ko po iiwan ang pangulo natin sasamahan ko po siya habang buhay. Wala siyang ibang hangarin kundi para sa tunay na pagbabago (I will never leave our President; I will be with him for the rest of my life. He has no other dream but to effect genuine change),” Go said.
Go appealed to his supporters to give him more time to decide on the matter.
“Trabaho muna tayo. ‘Wag muna nating pag-usapan yung pulitika. Bigyan niyo lang po ako ng konting panahon (Let's first work. Let's not talk about politics. Please just give me more time),” he said.
Go, in jest, said that if he wins in the next elections, the acronym SAP would have another meaning like “Senator of the Philippines” and the “Senator and Assistant of the President.”
Go said if he, however, fails to win the senatorial bid he could still be called the “Super Assistant of the People.”
The movement was attended by Cabinet members including National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Cayetano, and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.
Also present were congressmen Jericho Nograles, Ancieto Bertiz, Luis Raymund Villafuerte; PDP Laban members, and non-government organizations. (PNA)
