Bong Go on presidential bid: I'm still in state of shock

Senator Bong Go on Wednesday said that he was still in shock that he was running for president after initially casting his lot in the vice presidential race.

Go, President Rodrigo Duterte's longtime aide and confidante, added that he was still waiting for a sign from God on whether or not he would push through with his presidential bid.

“To be honest with you, nasa  state of shock pa po ko. Hindi ko po alam bakit ako nandidito bilang kandidato sa pagka-pangulo. All set na po ako bilang [aspirant for] vice president for 40 days,” Go said in an ambush interview in Caloocan City.

[To be honest with you, I am still in a state of shock. I don't know why I am here as a candidate for vice president. My candidacy for vice president was all set. I have been a vice presidential aspirant for 40 days.]

“‘Di ko naman po akalain na mapunta po ako sa pagtakbo bilang pangulo nasa shock ako, nahihirapan pa po ako sa aking sitwasyon bilang tumatakbong pangulo,” he added.

[I didn't expect that I will be running for president. I am still shocked. I am having hard time dealing with my situation.]

Asked if his hesitancy meant he could still drop his presidential aspirations, Go said, "Iniisip ko pang mabuti. Nag-aantay po ako ng sign sa Panginoon kung sa tinign niya na ‘Dito ka na lang Bong.’ Susundin ko po at s’yempre ang Pilipino."

[I am still thinking about it deeply. I am waiting for a sign from God. If he thinks that I should stay where I am right now, I will follow and of course, I will follow the call of the Filipinos.]

Still, Go said he was prepared to be the next chief executive, citing his experiences with Duterte.

“Kung trabaho lang po ang pag-uusapan bilang pangulo, alam ko po ang trabaho ng isang pangulo. I’ve been there sa tabi ni Pangulong Duterte. Alam ko po ang problema, alam ko po ang solusyon, part po ako ng solusyon,."

[I know the work of a president. I've been with President Duterte. I know the problems and I know the solutions. I am part of the solution.]

He denied anew claims that he was dictating the president’s decisions, saying he was suggesting solutions to the president, among which was the salary hike of police and military officers.

Go stressed he would support Duterte's daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in her vice presidential bid.

This, despite Sara and presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had already formalized their tandem for Eleksyon 2022.

“Bakit naman ako pipili ng vice presidential candidate, e siya mismo anak ng aking boss," Go said.

"Siyempre po anak sya ng aking boss, marami po kaming common supporters at ayaw kong pumili ng ibang kandidato sa pagka vice president. Ano ‘to circus?” he added.

[Why would I pick another vice presidential candidate if the daughter of my boss is running? Of course, she is the daughter of my boss, we have common supporters. I don't want to pick someone else. Is this a circus?]

“Pangit naman tingnan na iba ang vice president ko. Ayoko po maging circus at ayoko po na maraming masaktan,” he added.

[I think it would be hard to see that I will choose another vice president. I don't want to look like we are in a circus and I don't want to hurt someone's feelings.]

During the filing of the certificates of candidacy in October, Go filed a COC for vice president.

He eventually withdrew his COC and filed a new one to run for president under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).

His decision to drop his vice presidential bid came after Sara filed her COC through substitution route under Lakas-CMD.  -NB, GMA News