Presidential aspirants react to Bong Go's withdrawal from Eleksyon 2022

At least six presidential aspirants on Tuesday expressed different views on Senator Christopher "Bong" Go’s announcement that he is withdrawing his candidacy for president in Eleksyon 2022.

In an interview after his dialogue with transport sector leaders on Bonifacio Day, Senator Panfilo Lacson recalled his personal conversation with Go related to the latter’s presidential bid

“Ngayon ko lang nalaman na officially nag-withdraw na si Senator Bong Go, although matagal na niyang in-indicate. Maski pagka nasa lounge kami, talagang he would feel dejected, frustrated doon sa mga developments,” the presidential aspirant said.

(I only learned it now that Senator Bong Go officially withdrew, although he had indicated it for a while now. Even when we were in the lounge, he really would feel dejected, frustrated with the developments.)

Lacson said Go “confided” with him and his running-mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III that he was not prepared for the presidential race.

“Ang sinasabi niya sa amin, kino-confide niya sa aming dalawa ni Senate President ‘pag nasa lounge kami, ‘yung tête-à-tête namin doon bago o kaya during the session break, sinasabi niya na ‘hindi ko alam paano ako napunta rito kasi talagang happy na ako… ‘Yung pagka-senador nga, hindi ko na akalain na naging senador ako,'” Lacson quoted Go as saying.

(He was telling us, confiding in us both with the Senate President when we’re at the lounge, in our tête-à-tête there before or during session breaks, he was saying ‘I don’t know how I got here because I was already happy… Even becoming a senator, I didn’t expect that I would become a senator.')

“Tapos ready naman ako mag-vice president. Pero itong presidential run, parang this is something that I don't expect and I have not prepared for.’ So, ‘yon, kasi maski noon pa ini-indicate niya na talagang medyo half-hearted ‘yung kanyang… Parang napilitan lang siya,” he added.

(‘I was ready to run for vice president, but this presidential run, this is something that I don’t expect and I have not prepared for.’ So there, even then he was indicating that he was really half-hearted with… It seems he was forced.)

Lacson sent his well wishes to Go, saying he always respects his colleagues in the Senate.

“I wish him luck. After all, he’s my colleague in the Senate. Kami kasi meron kaming unwritten rule, ano. Pagka kapwa mo senador, kapwa mo senador ‘yan, and you don’t—normally, hangga’t maiiwasan, you don’t speak ill of your colleagues in the Senate. So, good luck to Senator Bong Go, ano man ang kanyang plano sa buhay henceforth. Good luck sa kanya,” Lacson said.

(I wish him luck. We have an unwritten rule – if it’s a fellow senator, it’s a fellow senator, and you don’t – normally, as much as you can avoid it, you don’t speak ill of your colleagues in the Senate. So, good luck to Senator Bong Go, whatever his plans in life are henceforth. Good luck to him.)

Senator Manny Pacquiao said he respects the decision of other politicians who are seeking the presidency, emphasizing that he is focused on how to provide a better life to Filipinos.

“I just heard rumors about his withdrawal. I don’t think anything is final or formal yet. I respect the decisions of other candidates, but ang focus namin ngayon ay kung paano mapapaunlad ang pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na ang mga mahirap,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

(I just heard rumors about his withdrawal. I don’t think anything is final or formal yet. I respect the decisions of other candidates, but our focus now is to find ways to provide a better life to our countrymen, especially to the poor.)

On the other hand, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said he will welcome any support for his candidacy, including the possibility of President Rodrigo Duterte endorsing him.

“With all honestly, ngayon… umaasa ako ng lahat ng tulong (I am hoping for all kinds of help),” Moreno said in an ambush interview when asked if he is expecting an endorsement from Duterte after Go has announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.

He said he is open to receiving all forms of support from more "allies, loyalists, believer, followers and volunteers” as he admitted that the presidential race is a “heavy battle.”

“So kung ako ang mapupusuan nila, uy, salamat. Thank you in advance pero ayoko pa ring pangunahan sila until they say so. For the mean time, I’m always hopeful. I’m always hopeful,” Moreno said.

(If they will support me, I could say, thank you in advance. But I don’t want to be ahead of their decision. For the mean time, I’m always hopeful. I’m always hopeful.)

“Antayin ko na kursunadahin nila ‘ko,” he added.

(I will wait until they will prefer me over the others.)

'Karapatan niya'

Vice President Leni Robredo said it was Go's right to withdraw. "Karapatan niya naman yon, karapatan niyang magdesisyon kung ayaw na niyang ituloy ang kanyang candidacy," she said.

(It's his right to decide that he no longer wants to continue his candidacy.)

"Ako kami kasi ang lakad namin hindi naman relative to other candidates eh yung lakad namin tuloy-tuloy lang kami ah hindi naman kami apektado ng mga nagsa-substitute umaalis, sa amin klaro sa amin ano dapat naming gawin," she added.

(As for me, my candidacy is not relative to others'. We just keep going; we are not affected by the substitution of other candidates. We are clear on what we want to achieve.)

Labor leader Leody de Guzman said that Go may have backed out from the presidential race but that the Duterte camp's interests are still represented by the tandem of former senator Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

"Sa pag-atras ni Bong Go sa karera sa pagkapangulo, sumulong ang tambalang Marcos-Duterte. Nagsalubong pa rin ang kanilang interes sa kabila ng mga patutsada ni Digong laban kay Bongbong," de Guzman wrote on Facebook.

(With Bong Go backing out, the Marcos-Duterte tandem advanced. Their interests are meeting despite Duterte's criticisms against Bongbong.)

"Lantad man o nakatago ang kanilang pagtutulungan, palalakasin lamang nito ang paninindigan at pagkilos ng manggagawa't mamamayan laban sa pandarambong at panunupil," he further said.

(Their teamwork may be in secret or out in the open, but it will strengthen laborers' stand against plunder and repression.)

De Guzman was referring to Duterte's previous tirades about a certain presidential aspirant who was believed to be doing drugs. The Marcos camp responded by showing its candidate's negative drug test result. 

GMA News Online sought comment from the presidential aspirants about Go's withdrawal. The Marcos camp has yet to respond.

Go announced his withdrawal from Eleksyon 2022 on Tuesday morning.

This came almost a week after he admitted that he was still waiting for "a sign from God" on whether or not he should push through with his presidential bid.

“In the past few days, I realized that my heart and my mind are contradicting my actions. Talagang nagre-resist po ang aking katawan, puso, at isipan. Tao lang po ako, nasasaktan at napapagod din [My body, heart and mind are resisting. I am just a human. I get hurt and tired sometimes],” Go said. — with Consuelo Marquez and Ma. Angelica Garcia/KG/BM, GMA News