Duterte pushes Go anew for president in Eleksyon 2022; Go declines

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday pushed anew Senator Bong Go to run for president in the 2022 elections, but his closest aide rejected the proposal.

The chief executive said he is gunning for Go as his partymates in PDP-Laban sought for a viable candidate for presidency.

"With the present crop of candidates now baka alternative ngayon gusto mo si Bong Go ang tinutukoy mo. Bong Go is ready anytime. (Maybe Bong Go is an alternative.)," Duterte said, addressing his partymates.

While he thanked his partymates and the president for the support, Go, however, declined to seek the presidential post as the work of a Philippine leader is a "thankless job."

"Ako po wala akong ambition bilang isang pangulo dahil alam ko ang problema ng isang pangulo. Kita ko mismo si presidente nagtatrabaho ng 24 oras sa isang oras napaka hirap ng trabaho ng isang Pangulo," the senator said.

(I don't have an ambition to be a president because I know the problem of being a president. I witnessed President Duterte's job, he works 24/7. The job of a President is difficult.)

"Thankless job. Gagawin mo ang tama sangkatutak na batikos ang aabutin mo. Nagkamali ka man babatikusin ka rin," he added.

(You will do what is right, you will still have criticisms. If you did something wrong, you will get criticisms as well.)

Since March, Duterte has been endorsing Go, a neophyte senator, to become the next Philippine president.

Duterte discourages daughter Sara to run, hits Trillanes

Meanwhile, the 76-year-old leader once again discouraged his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio not to seek the presidential post next year as he warned her about critics.  

"Sabi ko maawa ako sa anak kong babae, 'di ko sabihin na it is not because ito ay 'di para sa babae (I will pity my daughter. I am not saying that the presidency is not for women.) I am not talking of the capacity, talent of a woman to be a president but the things that go with the politics, babastusin ka (They will disobey you). Tingnan mo si  (Former Senator Antonio) Trillanes (IV)," said Duterte.

Duterte also hit Trillanes, saying the former legislator has "illusions of grandeur."

"This guy has the goal na magtapangtapangan. Kung yan ang mag presidente, sasabog itong Pilipinas. (He pretends to be strong. If he becomes president, the country will explode.)," said Duterte.

In a Talk to the Nation on Tuesday midnight, Duterte said his fiercest critic, Trillanes, only wants to hold power. This after the former senator accused Duterte and his closest aide, Go, of committing plunder amounting to around P6.6 billion over government contracts won by the construction firm owned by the senator’s father.—LDF, GMA News