Bong Go declines PDP-Laban's National Executive Committee endorsement to be presidential candidate

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go officially declined the endorsement of the National Executive Committee of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for him to be nominated as the party's presidential candidate, alongside President Rodrigo Duterte who was endorsed to run for the vice-presidential post.

In a letter addressed to party president and Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Go said that while he is deeply honored by the trust and confidence, he respectfully declines the endorsement.

"I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence of the members of the NEC in my capability to run for the presidency this coming 2022 elections. For a simple man who hails from a city in the South, the endorsement alone by esteemed members and officers of the NEC is a great personal honor for me," said Go.

"As much as I wish to respond to the clamor of many of our partymates, I most respectfully decline the said endorsement. As I have said many times before, I am not interested in the presidency," he added.

The letter comes after the PDP-Laban NEC adopted Resolution No. 5, series of 2021, last August 4, which endorses Go as the party's presidential candidate and President Rodrigo Duterte for the vice-presidential post.

As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go said that he would rather devote his time and attention in helping the government and Filipinos overcome the pandemic as soon as possible.

"This includes not just crafting laws but also performing representation and constituency services, particularly by helping those in need, as I have been doing ever since," he further explained.

In the letter's conclusion, Go stated that he will leave his political future in God's hands.

"Ipapasa-Diyos ko na lang ang lahat," concluded Go.

Earlier, Go also thanked the Filipino public for their trust and support following several independent surveys showing high trust and performance ratings for him, President Duterte, and the whole administration.

"Maraming salamat po sa inyong tiwala, lalung lalo na po sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte. Marahil ay nakakita po ang mga supporters niya ng rason para maipagpatuloy ang mga magagandang nagawa ng Pangulo. Continuity po ang kanilang hinahanap," Go earlier said.

"Ngunit hindi pa rin nagbabago ang isip ko. Hindi talaga ako interesado. Unahin niyo na lang ang mga may gusto talagang tumakbo bilang Pangulo. Kung ako tatanungin ninyo, mas gugustuhin ko na ako'y tahimik na nagseserbisyo para sa kabutihan ng kapwa kong Pilipino bilang inyong Senador," he added.

The Senator, who continues to go around the country to help Filipinos in crisis situations, such as fire victims, victims of natural disasters, displaced workers and vulnerable sectors of the pandemic, earlier said that his public service will not be hampered by talks about the coming elections and he will not limit himself to being a legislator only.

"As I have said numerous times, I will not limit myself to legislation only. Parte rin ng tungkulin ko ang representation at constituency services. Magseserbisyo ako sa Pilipino kahit saan man sila sa mundo para tugunan ang mga suliranin, pakinggan ang mga hinaing, at mag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng kanilang pagdadalamhati," Go previously said.

"Focus muna tayo, serbisyo muna tayo. Mahalaga po nandiyan po ang ating recovery measures at importante po walang maiwan sa ating pagbangon bilang nagkakaisa at mas matatag na bansa," he added.

When asked about his considerations for the upcoming elections, he hopes that whoever would lead the country next can continue the efforts that President Duterte has started towards providing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos.

"Kung papaano maipagpapatuloy ang mga magagandang pagbabago na nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte, lalo na ang kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, korapsyon at iligal na droga. At kung papaano rin maipagpatuloy ang pagkakaroon ng isang gobyerno na may malasakit sa kanyang mamamayan para maiahon ang ating bansa mula sa krisis na ito," he emphasized.

"Iyon ang aking konsiderasyon sa pagpili ng susunod na mamumuno sa ating bansa. Importante na may katimbang si Pangulong Duterte na kayang ipagpatuloy ang mga nagawa niya. Iyan ang continuity na sinasabi ko. Pero please lang, huwag lang ako," he reiterated.