Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (File photo)
MANILA – Senator Christopher "Bong" Go urged members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to unite and further strengthen efforts in support of the Duterte administration’s goal of providing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos amid these challenging times.
Go said, in an interview on Tuesday while visiting fire victims in Davao City, he hopes the situation within the party will improve now that a new group of officers has already been chosen.
“Ang importante rito nakapag-national assembly, nakapili na tayo ng bagong Presidente at ng new set of officers. Ako naman po, dati na po ako national auditor na re-elect lang po ako (What’s important is that we held a national assembly, we chose our new President and a new set of officers. I used to be the national auditor but has only been reelected),” he said.
On Saturday, July 17, at its national assembly in Clark, Pampanga, the members of the ruling party elected Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi as the next party president.
President Rodrigo Duterte, as Chairman of the party, commended members of PDP-Laban for their continuing trust and confidence in helping the government lead the country towards recovery amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We need to strengthen the party. Strengthen in the sense na kailangan po’y magkaisa at hindi po magkawatak-watak (we need to unite and not be divided),” said the Senator, adding that he is willing to step up as a mediator between factions within the party if necessary.
“Ako, I am willing to be the mediator dito. Kung kakailanganin pong magpagitna ako for the sake of the unity of the party ay willing po ako magpagitna dito sa PDP. Lalung-lalo na po paparating na po ang filing (If needed, I’m willing to be the go-between in the PDP, especially with the filing [of certificate of candidacy] draws near),” Go said.
Go also warned his fellow PDP-Laban members not to squander the gains made in the past years in building a strong political party that continues to instill positive change in the country as promised by the President.
“‘Yung partidong ito ay maliit lang po ito halos isang jeep lang po ito, ngayon po isang katutak na bus na po ang partido. Huwag ho nating sayangin ‘yung ating paglalakbay. Ito po ang tumulong kay Pangulong Duterte, nagluklok sa kanya bilang president (The party used to be a small jeep but now it’s a bus. Let’s not waste our journey. This is the one that helped President Duterte to be installed to the presidency),” he said.
Meanwhile, Go clarified that while many senate aspirants have signified their intention to be part of the administration slate for the 2022 senatorial elections, the list has not been finalized yet.
“Mayroon pong mga siyam na cabinet members, mayroon pong mga re-electionist, at mayroon din pong mga come-backing senators na gusto pong luminya sa ating mahal na Pangulo. At mayroon din pong mga baguhang pangalan na gusto pong sumama sa Senate slate ng ating mahal na Pangulo (There are nine cabinet members, re-electionist, and there are also come-backing senators who want to be in the lineup of our President. And there are also new names who want to join the Senate slate of our President),” Go said in a separate statement.
“As of now, wala pa pong final list. ‘Yung inilabas ni Governor Evardone, ay initial list lang po iyon base sa mga diskusyon with the party members (there is no final list yet. The one that Governor Evardone released was only an initial list based on the discussion with the party members),” he added.
Go assured that President Duterte will choose his candidates well in line with the vision of continuing the positive change that the current administration has worked hard for the past years.
He, however, reiterated that the focus now of the President and his administration is on strengthening Covid-19 response and economic recovery measures. (PR)
