‘Overcoming pandemic, not election talks should be everyone’s priority now’—SBG

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, urge Filipinos to focus their attention in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic first before even talking about next year’s presidential election.

On the sidelight of his visit to Legazpi City, Albay province in the Bicol region last February 5, 2021, Go said he and Pres. Duterte are not even talking about politics as the country is still suffering from the pandemic.

“Pero para sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte, ‘wag muna natin pag-usapan ang pulitika dahil nasa pandemya pa tayo.

“Importanteng malampasan natin ang pandemyang ito. Baka wala na tayong pag-usapang pulitika ‘pag ‘di natin nalagpasan ang pandemyang ito,” Go told the media.

Go was in Legazpi City to aid the victims of typhoons that devastated a large swath of Bicol region last year.

But forced to comment on next year’s polls where the country is also set to elect the successor to Pres. Duterte, the lawmaker said that “anyone qualified” to run for the country’s highest position has the right to do so.

“Alam n’yo, karapatan po ng bawat Pilipino ang tumakbo. This is democracy. Karapatan po (nila) na tumakbo bilang Pangulo,” said Go, referring to some personalities reportedly gunning for the post.

Among those being urged to run for president is presidential daughter and Davao City mayor, Sarah Duterte even as the camp of sitting vice president, Leni Robredo is already being eyed as the Liberal Party’s presumptive standard bearer.

However, Robredo’s victory is still being contested by former Sen. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, who accused the former’s camp of cheating their way to the vice presidential seat during the 2016 polls.

Go also called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the country’s election office, to ensure the “integrity” of next year’s elections and safety of the voters.

The possibility of doing away with ‘face-to-face’ campaigning is now being discussed in Congress due to the pandemic.

“Ako naman po, trabaho ng Comelec ‘yan.

“Mandato ng Comelec kung paano nila patakbuhin ang eleksyon. Importante po malinis na eleksyon at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang bawat Pilipino na makaboto,” Go said.

“Dapat po balansehin muna ng Comelec — lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan. Health first, buhay po muna ng Pilipino. Dapat sigurado silang protektado laban sa COVID-19,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos, chair of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms, said that removing face-to-face campaigning would be near impossible.

And with candidate now “forced to good” in relying on various available media platforms, Marcos also said it would be better also for Congress to come up with a new law on campaign expenses, adding the present situation only favors candidate with huge campaign funds.

Marcos added the present P3 per voter expense allowed under the country’s present election rules is not “realistic.” “Who actually believe that,” she asked.

“I think the more reasonable amount is between P20 or P30 per voter, to make it more believable and so that candidates with little money would not be prejudiced,” Marcos explained.