God sends sign; Bong Go withdraws from presidential election

SENATOR BONG Go, who is running for the presidency in next year’s polls, has withdrawn his candidacy on Tuesday, saying it is not yet his time to seek the top post.

Senator Bong Go (Photo from Go's Facebook page)

His withdrawal from the elections has left the ruling PDP-Laban with no official candidates in both the presidency and the vide presidency, although Go filed his candidacy under the political party called Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan where President Rodrigo Duterte is also running for a Senate seat.

Go said even his family does not want him to run for the presidency.

“Ayaw rin talaga ng aking pamilya kaya naisip ko na siguro ay hindi ko pa panahon sa ngayon. Diyos lang ang nakakaalam kung kailan ang tamang panahon. Ayaw ko ring maipit si Pangulong Duterte higit pa sa tatay ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya–matanda na po siya at marami na rin siyang naibigay para sa bayan, ayaw ko na pong dagdagan pa ang kanyang problema. Nananatili akong tapat sa kanya at nangako akong sasamahan ko po siya habambuhay,” he said. 

“Talagang nagre-resist ang aking katawan, puso, at isipan. Tao lang po ako na nasasaktan at napapagod din at sa ngayon, yun ang mga rason ko. That is why I am withdrawing from the race. I am willing to make the supreme sacrifice for the good of our country and for the sake of unity among our supporters,” he added. 

Just recently, lawyer Melvin Matibag, the secretary general of PDP-Laban, said Go was not backing out. “No, Senator Bong Go is not backing out from the presidential race at tuloy na tuloy ito,” Matibag told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.  

There were 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.  

Go previously said he was 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 was 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. 

Duterte pushed Go to run for the presidency and even endorsed his daughter to be Go’s vice presidential, but not Marcos. 

Matibag said dozens of provincial governors are supporting Go’s candidacy following a meeting at the Presidential palace on November 24. 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)