Bong Go asks President Duterte to be his legal consultant after his term ends on June 30

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday said that he asked President Rodrigo Duterte to be his legal consultant once he steps down from office on June 30.

“Knowing the President talagang hinahanap po ng kanyang katawan, nasa DNA na po niya ang pagtatrabaho. Nag-offer po ako sa kanya na kung pwede kong… sabi ko, 'Mr. President pwede ba kitang kunin kahit man lang consultant?' Pumayag naman siya as a legal consultant,” Go said in an ambush interview during the inauguration ceremony of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte in Davao City.

(Knowing the President—his body is always looking to work—it’s like work is in his DNA. I offered to tell him that if I could… I said, "Mr. President, can I hire you even as a consultant?" He agreed to be a legal consultant.)

Go, however, clarified that the President had yet to formally accept the offer as he was still studying other options after his term ends.

“Isa lang po ‘yun sa mga options niya. Hindi ko lang masasabi dahil malay ninyo may mga offer sa kanya sa mataas na (government) position,” said the Senator, adding that the President still wants to oversee the country as a private citizen.

“Asahan ninyo na andyan pa rin siya nakatingin, at sabi niya bilang private citizen. Pwede ninyo pa rin siyang lapitan lalong-lalo na po ‘yung mga naaapi. As private citizen pwede po siyang magsalita at magbigay ng payo at makatulong kahit papaano dahil mahal niya po ang ating bansa.”

(That is just one of his options. I just can’t say because you never know.  He may be offered an important government position. You can expect him to still be there, and he said that as a private citizen you can still approach him, especially those who are oppressed. As a private citizen, he can speak and give advice and help in some way because he loves our country.)

The President on Friday joked about how he and his daughter Sara would be leading the country together for 11 days.

“So at that time, at that point in time sa history, ang Presidente ako pa. June 30 pa ‘yung isa eh. Pero may Vice President na nag-oath of office na. So in... how many days it would be? Eleven, oo tama 11 days, ang Presidente ninyo Duterte, ang Vice President ninyo Duterte. Kaya sabihin ko kay Inday, ituloy na lang natin ito,” he said.

“Hindi biro lang,” Duterte said. “But it's really a queer situation.”

(So at that time, at that point in time in history, the President will still be me because the next one would lead on June 30. But the new Vice President has already taken her oath. So in about — how many days it would be? Eleven, right, 11 days, your President and Vice President would be Dutertes. So I’ll tell Inday, why don’t we just continue it? Just kidding.)

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea earlier said Duterte was considering becoming a teacher after the end of his term. — DVM, GMA News