Duterte to retire from politics; Bong Go takes on challenge to be working VP, cites need for continuity of reforms under the Duterte Administration

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, October 2, said he plans to retire from politics as he withdrew his acceptance of PDP-Laban's official nomination as the ruling party's vice presidential candidate for the 2022 elections, prompting his long-time aide and incumbent Senator Christopher "Bong" Go to take on the challenge.

"Kung papalarin ako at bibigyan ng pagkakataon ng mga kapwa ko Pilipino, at sa pagpatnubay ng ating Panginoon, I will be a working Vice President na gagawin ang lahat ng aking makakaya para makapagsilbi sa inyo. Hindi ako magiging spare tire o reserba lamang. Asahan ninyo na ako ay totoong magtatrabaho -- hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa gawa," he vowed in his speech after filing his candidacy.

Accompanied by Duterte, Go filed his own Certificate of Candidacy at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City, saying "Napag-desisyunan kong tumakbo bilang Bise Presidente sa darating na halalan upang maipagpatuloy ang mga magagandang programa at tunay na pagbabagong naumpisahan ni Pangulong Duterte -- at sisikapin nating dagdagan pa ang mga ito."

"Una sa lahat, walang tigil dapat ang kampanya natin kontra iligal na droga, korapsyon, at kriminalidad. Ang taumbayan na ang humusga kung mas ligtas ba ngayon ang mga anak nila at walang pangamba dahil sa mga kriminal at adik," he added.

Duterte's successful presidential campaign in 2016 was anchored on his promise to fight the so-called three evils of Philippine society---illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

"Ang taumbayan na ang humusga kung mas ligtas ba ngayon ang mga anak nila at walang pangamba dahil sa mga kriminal at adik," Go said.

Based on latest figures from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a total of P64.09 billion of illegal drugs and equipment were seized by authorities from July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2021. In the same period, 893 illegal drug dens and clandestine laboratories were also dismantled, with 22,858 barangays out of 42,045 in the country declared as drug-free.

"Hindi dapat masayang ang mga nasimulang ito kung kaya't sa susunod na anim na taon ay sisikapin nating lalong maproteksyunan ang buhay at kinabukasan ng ating mga anak," he added.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic brought havoc to the entire world, the Philippine economy was on solid track, averaging 6-7% Gross Domestic Product annually, at par with other giants in the region, such as that of Vietnam.

"Ang ganda na sana ng takbo ng ating ekonomiya at ng administrasyong Duterte kung hindi lang tayo tinamaan ng krisis. Sisikapin nating maibalik sa normal ang ating pamumuhay at muling maiahon mula sa hirap ang ating mga kababayan dahil rumami ang nawalan ng trabaho at nagugutom," Go promised.

"Upang makamtan ang layuning ito, palalaguin natin ang mga oportunidad pangkabuhayan sa bawat sulok ng bansa. Sosolusyunan natin ang hirap at gutom dahil importante na maalagaan ang tiyan ng bawat Pilipino," he explained further.

Go is considered as the Father of the Malasakit Centers program now institutionalized by Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 that Go primarily authored on his first year as a Senator. The centers are one-stop shops for all government medical assistance programs, putting together the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and PhilHealth under one roof, making it convenient for particularly poor and indigent Filipinos to access medical care. There are presently 141 Malasakit Centers operating in the country.

"Sisiguraduhin nating magiging mabilis, maayos at abot-kaya ang serbisyong pangkalusugan tulad ng naibibigay na tulong ng Malasakit Centers sa mga nangangailangan," Go, also the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said.

"Titiyakin rin nating matatapos ang mga nasimulang Build, Build, Build projects upang maisakatuparan ang mas maginhawa at komportableng buhay para sa lahat," he also said, citing the stellar performance of the Duterte Administration in terms of infrastructure projects. The Build, Build, Build program has been considered by many analysts as the Golden Age of Philippine Infrastructure.

"I intend to pursue and expand these efforts further towards overcoming this pandemic by achieving economic recovery, providing job opportunities, and addressing hunger and poverty. At sa lahat ng ito, sisiguraduhin nating walang maiiwan sa ating muling pagbangon bilang isang mas matatag na bansa," Go further said, noting the need for inclusive recovery.

"Hindi ko sasayangin ang bawat oras, minuto, o pagkakataon na ibinibigay sa akin ng taumbayan na magserbisyo sa aking kapwa. Kapalit ng inyong tiwala at suporta, ibabalik ko sa inyo ang serbisyong may malasakit, tunay at nararapat," Go said.

"I will continue to serve especially those who need government attention the most -- yung mga mahihirap po. I am determined to fulfill my role as a bridge for the poor, the needy, the hopeless and the helpless -- connecting them to their government so that their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed during these trying times," Go further explained.

Before being elected as a Senator, he served as the Special Assistant to the President. Citing that a Senator's job is not limited to legislation only, Go has been at the forefront providing representation and constituency services around the country, listening to the pleas of the most ordinary Filipinos, bringing assistance particularly in the midst of the pandemic.

"I don't want to be remembered as just another senator or Vice President. I want to be remembered as a Public Servant na nalalapitan ng sinumang ordinaryong mamamayan at buong pusong nagsisilbi para sa ikabubuti ng bansa," Go said.

"Ako si Kuya Bong Go at ang aking bisyo ay magserbisyo. Nandito ako para maipagpatuloy ang tunay na pagbabagong inaasam natin," he added.

Earlier, Go was officially nominated by the ruling party as its official candidate for the country's top post. He respectfully declined the offer to run for the presidency, however.

"Para sa aking mga kapartido sa PDP-Laban at sa iba pang lubos na sumusuporta sa mga adhikain ng administrasyong ito, huwag kayong mag-alala dahil hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Nandirito pa rin si Pangulong Duterte bilang ating pinuno at number 1 campaigner. Wala pong iwanan sa laban na ito," he assuaged his party mates.

"Tulad ng bilin ni Pangulong Duterte sa akin, parati po at tinatandaan ko ito: "unahin mo ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino at mahalin natin ang ating kapwa, hinding-hindi ka magkakamali," he finally said.