Supporters urge Bong Go to carry on with his presidential bid

Supporters of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Saturday urged the presidential aide-turned-lawmaker to reconsider his decision to abandon the 2022 presidential race.

At a hybrid press conference, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) and senatorial aspirant Greco Belgica said that his party will continue to support Go.

“Sa kabila ng pagatras ng kandidatura ni Senator Bong bilang pangulo ng bansa sa darating na halalan 2022, buo pa rin ang suporta ng PDDS sa kanya at sa Pangulong Duterte,” Belgica said.

(Despite Senator Bong's withdrawal from the presidential race, the PDDS' support for him and President Duterte is unwavering.)

However, Belgica said that the party continues to hope and pray that Go will still push through with his presidential bid.

“Aming dalangin sa maykapal na siya bigyan ng kalinawan ng isip…para ipagpatuloy ang kanyang pagseserbisyo para sa ikabubuti ng marami bilang pangulo.”

Go earlier said he won't be pursuing a 2022 presidential bid anymore because his mind and heart are not into it, and that his family is also against it.

But the senator has yet to personally appear before the Commission on Elections for his formal withdrawal.

Go initially filed a certificate of candidacy for vice president under the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, but withdrew and instead filed CoC for president under PDDS.

The senator had sought to run for president under PDDS via substitution, after President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, filed her CoC for vice president under the Lakas-CMD.

“Kami po ay umaasa hanggang sa huling segundo na hindi magwi-withdraw si Kuya Bong Go. Kami po ay puspusang kikilos sa apat na sulok ng Pilipinas upang maipanalo si kuya Bong Go,” said Albert dela Cruz of Let’s Go Bong Go Coalition.

(We will keep hoping, until the last second, that Kuya Bong Go will not withdraw. We will work hard in all four corners of the Philippines to make him win.)

For her part, Go-Sara Du30 Coalition’s Vivian Velez appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to “encourage Senator Bong Go to run for president.”

“We will continue to pray for Senator Bong Go to reconsider his earlier decision not to run,” Velez said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he respects Go’s withdrawal from the 2022 presidential race. —LBG, GMA News