Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has declined President Rodrigo Duterte’s push for him to seek the presidency in 2022, saying the presidency was a thankless job he did not want.
Duterte made the push during a PDP-Laban meeting in Malacañang.
“Ako naman po wala akong ambisyon bilang isang pangulo dahil alam ko po mismo ‘yong
problema ng isang pangulo,” Go said.
Go remained as Duterte’s top aide even as he was elected senator.
“Napakahirap po ng trabaho ng isang pangulo. Thankless job,” Go added.
The president also discouraged anew her daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, from having presidential ambitions.
“Frankly, really, the truth is I do not want her to suffer and being humiliated, embarrassed before the public like the likes of (Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV) pati ito si (Sen. Leila de Lima) na may kasalanan talaga,” Duterte said.
“Kaya sabi ko maawa ako sa anak ko, babae e. Kaya sabi ko hindi ito para sa babae,” he added.
The Philippines has had two female presidents in history—Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1992 and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2010.
The next presidential elections are slated for May 2022. John Ezekiel J. Hirro