Duterte calls Go 'presidente' at NTF-ELCAC event

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night called his longtime assistant Senator Bong Go  'presidente' after telling an audience how the lawmaker had been going around communities to help victims of fire..

Speaking at an event of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Cagayan De Oro City, Duterte said Go was a graduate of La Salle and had roots in Batangas.

"I am not running... Senator Go is quite hard-working. You can read about him in the newspapers anywhere. If there's a fire, he would go there regardless of where it is... He's a graduate of La Salle, he has Batangueño roots," Duterte said in Bisaya.

"Presidente, will you again stand up?" he added, addressing the former special assistant to the President who had been with him since he was mayor of Davao City.

"Let's see if it fits you. Stand up again. Stand up. And then do this," Duterte said, waving his hand. "He was with me for 21 years."

In a statement, Go said he was grateful for Duterte's trust.

"I am very grateful for the trust given to me by the President. Salamat po sa tiwala pero hindi po ako interesado," Go said. -Virgil Lopez/NB, GMA News