Bong Go clarifies anew he won’t run for senator

FILE: Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go (Photo: Christopher Bong GO/Facebook)

MANILA — Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday reiterated that he is not interested in running for a Senate seat.

“Inuulit ko po, hindi po ako interesado tumakbo sa Senado sa 2019, magsisilbi po ako kay Mayor Duterte hanggang kamatayan, kung hindi man ako mauna (I say it again that I am not interested to seek a Senatorial post in 2019. I will serve Mayor Duterte (President Rodrigo Duterte) till death, if I die ahead of him),” Go said.

Go made this pronouncement after Partido Demokratiko-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Secretary-General and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he is eyeing President Rodrigo Duterte’s top aide to join the ruling party’s senatorial slate in the 2019 elections.

“Pero kung tutuparin ni Speaker Alvarez ang pangako nyang kunin akong ninong sa kasal nya, baka mag bago po isip ko (But if Alvarez will fulfill his promise to have me as godfather to his wedding, I might change my mind),” Duterte’s closest aide jested.

Alvarez said he wanted Go to run under PDP Laban because the party needs to field a candidate from Mindanao.

Go, who hails from Davao City, had earlier said he is committed to “stand beside (Duterte) ’til kingdom come”.

Included in Alvarez’ proposed senatorial line-up are Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) assistant secretary Margaux Uson, and Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino.

Also in the party’s list of candidates for the Senate are Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez, and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman.