MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, administration presidential candidate under an allied party of PDP-Laban, announced Tuesday his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Go, who is vying for the presidential post with the backing of no less than Duterte, said that his heart and mind have been contradicting with his actions. He added that his family is also against his move to vie 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,” Go said in an ambush interview.
Go also mentioned he did not want to add burden to Duterte’s problems.
“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.”
“Matanda na po siya at marami na rin siyang naibigay para sa bayan kaya ayaw ko na pong dagdagan pa ang kaniyang problema,” he added.
(I don’t want President Duterte trapped in the middle because I love him as a father — he is old and he has already given much to the country. I don’t want to add to his problems. I will remain loyal to him and I vow to be with him forever.)
The announcement of his withdrawal comes after days of President Rodrigo Duterte’s longtime aide giving hints that he may drop out of the presidential race.
This would leave the administration PDP-Laban party without an official candidate in the 2022 elections for now.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Tuesday said there will be no substitution for the withdrawal of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go from the 2022 presidential race.
“Since it would be a voluntary withdrawal, no substitution,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.
The poll body’s mouthpiece added that Go is required to physically appear before the Comelec to formalize his withdrawal.
PhilStar, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News