SBG looking for ‘right time’ to withdraw candidacy

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, said he is looking “at the right time” to withdraw his candidacy for president as he called on his supporters to stop their week-long vigil in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila last week.

“Ako po’y nakikiusap sa mga supporters, sa mga leaders po namin ni Pangulong Duterte na kung maaari po huwag n’yo na lang po akong hintayin sa Comelec, lalo po akong hindi makakapunta diyan sa Comelec kung nag-aabang ho kayo.

Mas gusto kong ligtas po sila dahil delikado pa po ang panahon, may COVID-19 pa po,” Go said in a statement last December 3, 2021 while in Zamboanga City together with Pres. Duterte,

Go also said that he will formalize his withdrawal “at the right time.”

“Wala naman po itong pilitan kung kailan ko gustong pumunta ng Comelec. Puwedeng sa susunod na linggo, puwedeng sa susunod na buwan… wala naman pong deadline sa pag-withdraw,” he explained.

The country’s electoral laws called for a candidate withdrawing from the election to formalize his decision before the poll body.

After much soul-searching, Go last November 30, 2021, announced he is withdrawing from the presidential contest, 15 days after he filed with the Comelec his certificate of candidacy for president accompanied by Pres. Duterte.
Since announcing his withdrawal, his supporters have been daily gathering at the Comelec office in Manila last week with placards and streamers urging him not to withdraw.

“Habang nandidiyan po sila ay hindi po ako makakapasok doon dahil pipigilan nila ako. Kaya po nakikiusap na lang po ako sa mga supporters ko, supporters namin ni Pangulong Duterte,” he added.

He also called on his supporters to accept his decision, the way Pres. Duterte did.

“Alam n’yo po nagkausap na kami ni Pangulong Duterte at siya mismo ay nirerespeto niya ang aking desisyon.

“Dahil nauunawaan n’ya po ang hirap lalo pa at pamilya na nga po ang pinag-uusapan,” Go added.

Go also reiterated his reasons for backing out of the presidential race, saying he did not want President Duterte to be caught in the middle ahead of the 2022 polls. He also did it for his family who are opposed to his running for president.

“Naiintindihan naman po ako ni Pangulong Duterte dahil unang-una nga po kapag pamilya na po ang ayaw… dahil ito ‘yung inuuwian natin pagdating ng pagpahinga natin sa gabi, lalung-lalo na po ako – isa lang po akong simpleng probinsyano na umuuwi rin sa pamilya,” he explained.

“Pangalawa, ayaw ko rin pong pahirapan si Pangulong Duterte. Ayaw ko rin pong mahirapan ‘yung mga supporters namin at alam n’yo naman po dahil matanda na rin po si Pangulong Duterte.

Naglingkod na po siya sa bayan, ginugol niya na po ang kanyang buong buhay sa paglilingkod sa ating mga kababayan. Huwag na ho natin siyang pahirapan pa sa darating na eleksyon,” he added.

But Go said that while he is firm in withdrawing from the presidential race, he added that he will support whoever can continue and protect the legacy of the Duterte administration.

“Ako naman po kung sinong susuportahan ni Pangulong Duterte ‘yon din ang aking susuportahan… kung sino po ‘yung makakapagpatuloy ng mga magagandang programa at ituloy po ‘yung mga pagbabagong inumpisahan niya,” he added.

He also pointed out that in order to recover from the pandemic, the next administration should be able to take on the challenge of sustaining the COVID-19 response efforts as well as assuring the success of programs that aim to provide a more comfortable life for all.

“Halimbawa po itong mga Build, Build, Build programs. Ito pong COVID response natin, sana po’y tuluy-tuloy na po, maganda na po ang takbo ngayon ng ating COVID response. Sana po ay ipagpatuloy po ito ng susunod na administrasyon,” he said.

“And of course, ‘yung sa Malasakit Center, ‘yung makakatulong po sa mahihirap. Unahin po ‘yung mga programang makakatulong po sa mga mahihirap. Kami naman po ni Pangulong Duterte inuuna talaga namin ‘yung mga mahihirap,” he explained further.

Go’s withdrawal is seen to pave the way for the further unity of their supporters with those of Davao City mayor and presidential daughter, Sara Duterte, who decided to run as the running mate of former senator, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong/BBM’ Marcos, thus further increasing their lead over their rivals.

Pre-poll surveys indicate that a single Marcos-Duterte ticket would be unbeatable if the elections were held today.