Plot Twist? Bong Go is Running for Vice President

(UPDATE) President Rodrigo Duterte's longtime aide, Sen. Bong Go, filed his candidacy for vice president on Saturday, as the chief executive announced his plans to retire from politics.

Duterte accompanied Go to the Commission on Elections when the latter filed his certificate of candidacy--just like in 2019 when the lawmaker ran for senator.

Go is running under the ruling PDP-Laban political party, a faction of which earlier endorsed President Duterte as its vice presidential bet. Go was initially endorsed to be the nominee to succeed Duterte but the lawmaker rejected the endorsement.

The first-term senator had earlier confirmed asking Duterte's eldest daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to be her vice president should she decide to seek the presidency in 2022.

Before becoming senator in 2019, Go was a special assistant to President Duterte and even during the 76-year-old leader's stint as Davao City mayor. Go has remained close by Duterte's side even after he was elected as a lawmaker.

Should he win as vice president, Go said he would not just be a "spare tire," promising to work to uplift the lives of Filipinos from the pandemic.

"I will be a working vice president na gagawin ang lahat ng aking makakaya para makapagsilbi po sa inyong lahat. Hindi ako magiging spare tire o reserba lamang, asahan ninyong ako ay totoong magtatrabaho hindi lamang sa salita kundi pati sa gawa," he said.

"Sisiguraduhin natin na walang maiiwan sa ating muling pagbangon bilang mas matatag na bansa," he told reporters.

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