Governors back Go’s vice presidential bid

AT LEAST 45 provincial governors are now supporting the vice presidential bid of President Rodrigo Duterte’s former aide, Senator Bong Go in next year’s elections, according to the ruling party PDP-Laban.

Governor Sakur Tan bows to President Rodrigo Duterte as he welcomes him and Senator Bong Go during a visit to Sulu province.  Tan is a close political ally of the President and one of 45 governors supporting Go's vice presidential bid.

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan poses with President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Bong Go, Vice Governor Toto Tan and Dr. Fahra Omar, the Chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office; and another official at the Jolo airport during the January 22, 2021 inauguration of a Malasakit Center. A second Malasakit Center was also inaugurated in September this year. (Alberto Alcain)

Duterte was earlier endorsed by his own political party to run for vice president so he can continue what he started when he won the presidency in 2016, but announced that he is retiring when his term ends, and he pushed Go to run for vice president.

He also said that his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Carpio will be Go’s running mate for the presidency.

PDP-Laban said the following governors are supporting Go: Sakur Tan (Sulu); Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar); Edwin Ong (Northern Samar); Michael Tan (Western Samar); Dominic Petilla (Leyte); Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte); Roger Espina (Biliran); Dax Cua (Quirino); Jim Salliman (Basilan); Jose Alvarez (Palawan); Zaldy Villa (Siquijor); Imelda Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte); Edgar Tallado (Camarines Norte); Migz Villafuerte (Camarines Sur); Jose Riano (Romblon); Dale Corvera (Agusan del Norte); Jun Ebdane (Zambales); Bonz Dolor (Oriental Mindoro); Nancy Catamco (Cotabato province); Arthur Yap (Bohol province); Wilter Palma (Zamboanga Sibugay); Melchor Diclas (Benguet); Roberto Uy (Zamboanga del Norte); Oyie Umali (Nueva Ecija); Gwen Garcia (Cebu); Noel Degamo (Negros Oriental); Jurdin Jesus Romualdo (Camiguin); Presby Velasco (Marinduque). 

And Gerardo Noveras (Aurora Province); Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III (La Union); Maria Jocelyn Valera Bernos (Abra); Hernilando Mandanas (Batangas); Bonz Dolor (Oriental Mindoro); Al Francis Bichara (Albay); Jose Riano (Romblon); Joven Miraflores (Aklan); Ayik Pimentel (Surigao del Sur); Victor Yu (Zamboanga del Sur); Joseph Cua (Catanduanes); Bonifacio Lacwasan (Mountain Province); Eleanor Begtang (Apayao); Susan Yap (Tarlac); Rodito Albano III (Isabela); Amado Espino III (Pangasinan) and Frank Matugas (Surigao del Norte). 

They also released a joint statement hailing Go’s “wide and valuable” insights on both local and national governance, as well as his offered solutions for pressing issues in the country.

“We, provincial governors, crossing party lines, support the candidacy for vice president of Senator Bong Go and vow to campaign tirelessly for his election to the country’s second highest elective position,” the statement reads.

Go, they said, is ready to take on the challenge as the second highest official in the country if the lawmaker wins in the elections. “Such experience has prepared him adequately for elective public office - as senator and hopefully as vice president. Having come from the ranks of local public servants, we have no doubt that Bong Go understands the issues we face 24/7 in our respective provinces,” the statement further said.

They believed that Go, if elected vice president, would continue Duterte’s programs, including the relentless efforts to fight illegal drugs, criminality and corruption. “These are some of the problems we continue to face as local officials, despite the administration’s gains in stamping out such nefarious activities,” the governors said.

They also expressed confidence that Go would ensure that the country’s economic development would further improve and more job opportunities would be offered to Filipinos through the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

They likewise noted that with only over two years of being a senator, Go has been able to institutionalize the Malasakit Center, a project that he and Duterte started even before Go joined the Senate, by being a principal author of Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The governors also lauded Go for making affordable healthcare accessible to Filipinos through the Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop for medical and financial assistance for the sick. 

“There are now at least 138 Malasakit Centers in public hospitals throughout the country. These centers serve hundreds of sick poor Filipinos every day,” the statement said. (Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Mindanao Examiner)