Bong Go willing to sacrifice presidential bid, waits for God's sign

SENATOR BONG Go, who is running for the presidency, is not backing out of the political race, said lawyer Melvin Matibag, the secretary general of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) after the former presidential aide said he is still waiting for God’s sign whether to continue or not.

There are talks that Go may slide down to give way for Bongbong Marcos, whose running mate is presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Hugpong ng Pagbabago and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino have forged an alliance and are behind Marcos-Duterte tandem. 

“No, Senator Bong Go is not backing out from the presidential race at tuloy na tuloy ito,” Matibag told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. 

Go said he is willing to “make the supreme sacrifice for the good of our country, and for the sake of unity among our supporters and leaders.” 

Go, a member of the PDP-Laban, told reporters on November 24 that he is waiting for a sign from God whether to pursue his candidacy or not after saying that he still cannot believe that he is running for the presidency. 

President Rodrigo Duterte, who is also gunning for a senate seat after his term ends, has pushed Go to run in next year’s polls. Duterte even endorsed his daughter to be as Go’s vice presidential, but not Marcos.

“Nabigla ako. Hindi pa pumapasok sa isipan ko kung bakit ako nandito as a candidate po ng pagiging presidente,” Go said, adding “iniisip ko pa nang mabuti, nag-aantay po ako ng sign sa Panginoon. Kung sa tingin niyang, dito ka na lang Bong. Susundin ko po at siyempre yung Pilipino.” 

Matibag said Go, who filed his candidacy under the political party Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), was just being honest when he made those statement. “Alam mo naman yan si Senator Bong Go is very honest, pero hindi magwi-withdraw yan and as a matter of fact nag-meeting nga sila sa Malakanyang (on November 24) at naroon ang mga governors, more than 50 of them and they are all supporting Senator Bong Go at hindi lang mga governors, pati mga ibang (local government) officials,” he said. 

The PDDS has welcomed Go’s candidacy, including Duterte’s senate run, saying “lubos ang aming kagalakan na pinili ng Pangulong Duterte at Senador Bong Go tumakbo at mapabilang sa aming hanay dahil nabuo ang aming partido base rin sa kanilang adhikain para sa bayan at inspirasyon. Gaya nina Pang. Duterte at Sen. Go, hangad naming makapaghandog ng tunay na pagbabago sa taumbayan. Kaya bitbit din namin ang mga plataporma ng Presidente kabilang ang pederalismo at masidhing laban kontra droga, krimen, terorismo at katiwalian. Ang PDDS at PDP-Laban ay magkatuwang, magkasama at iisang grupo na sumusuporta sa kandidatura ng Pangulong Duterte at Senador Bong Go.” 

PDDS, whose president is Greco Belgica, the former chairman of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and is now running for senator, also called on Duterte’s supporters and followers to unite and continue the president’s program. “Panawagan ng PDDS sa lahat ng mga taga-suporta ng Pangulo: Ito ang panahon para tayo ay magkaisa. Isantabi ang mga pagkakaiba at pansariling interes para ipagpatuloy ang mga adhikain sa bayan na ating pinag samasamahan noong 2016 ng ating suportahan ang nooy Mayor Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang kandidatura dahil gusto natin ng pagbabago. Kailangan tayong magsamasamang muli para maipanalo ang Pangulo at si Sen. Go upang maipagpatuloy nila ang mga nasimulang reporma.” 

Go also issued a statement on November 25 and below is the full text of his pronouncement: 

“Running for the Presidency is something I have never dreamed of. Iniiwasan ko ang posisyon na ito, but fate -- as I said -- has a way of turning things around. Nagdesisyon ang partido at si Pangulong Duterte and I accepted the challenge. At present, I continue to seek guidance from the Divine Being for I believe that the Presidency is a matter of destiny. Kung para sayo yan, para talaga sayo yan. Nakakataba ng puso yung suporta at hindi po namin kakalimutan yan pero totoong tao po ako at sinasabi ko lang ang totoong nararamdaman ko.”

“Naging kandidato na ako as Vice President for about 40 days hanggang sa nangyari po ang hindi natin inaasahan. At dahil sa mahal ko at ayaw kong masaktan si Pangulong Duterte at ang kanyang pamilya ay kinailangan ko pong magpaubaya. But in the past few days po, I realized that my heart and mind are contradicting my own actions. Tao lang po ako na nasasaktan at napapagod din. O baka dahil sadyang napakarumi at ganun kainit lang talaga ang pulitika. Talagang nagreresist po ang aking katawan, puso at isipan. Pati po ang aking pamilya ay nahihirapan.”

“Ako naman po ay isang probinsyano lamang na binigyan ng pagkakataon ng Panginoon at ng mamamayang Pilipino na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo. Hindi po ako isang pulitiko. Hindi ako nanggaling sa malaki o kilalang pamilya. I am only a simple public servant from the province na walang ibang hangad kundi ang magserbisyo po sa aking kapwa tao. Pero sa ngayon, baka hindi ko pa po panahon. Ako yung taong handang magsakripisyo para wala nang maipit, masaktan at mamroblema. Ayoko na pong mahirapan si Pangulo at yung mga supporters natin. Mahal ko po si Pangulong Duterte. Matanda na rin po siya at ayaw ko siyang bigyan pa ng dagdag na problema.”

“Having said this, I leave my fate to God and the Filipino people as I vow to do my best every day to serve selflessly and tirelessly. I am willing to make the supreme sacrifice for the good of our country, and for the sake of unity among our supporters and leaders. Marami namang paraan upang makatulong sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Ako naman, kahit saan man ako ipadpad ng aking tadhana, patuloy po akong magseserbisyo. Kung anuman ang aking magiging desisyon, ipapasa-Diyos ko na lang ang lahat alang-alang sa kung ano ang makakabuti sa bayan.” (Mindanao Examiner)