Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, on Wednesday, Mar. 23, confirmed the meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos during an interview after his monitoring visit of the Malasakit Center and turnover of financial assistance from the Office of the President at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Go said that the two had a productive meeting, with Duterte sharing his experiences with Marcos as an outgoing president of the country and even giving him advice during their discussions.
“Maganda naman po ang resulta ng meeting. Medyo matagal-tagal nga ‘yon at talagang ganado ‘yung Pangulo na magkuwento. I think about 80% ng discussion ay more on si Presidente po ang nagsasalita,” shared the senator.
“And he shared his experience po… as president sa mga nakaraan. Ito, nagbigay siya ng mga kaunting payo, mga ginawa niya para sa ating bayan ay sana po’y ipagpatuloy ng kung sino man po ‘yong magiging susunod na Pangulo,” he added.
Go also mentioned that the meeting was one of the factors that led to the ruling party, the PDP-Laban, endorsing Marcos’ candidacy after various talks and consultations.
“Malamang ‘yon po ang naging isa sa naging dahilan, pero dumaan po ‘yon sa konsultasyon at proseso,” said Go.
“It’s a party decision po. So, ibig sabihin dumaan sa proseso, pinag-usapan, nagkonsultasyon sa iba’t ibang miyembro ng PDP at majority ang nakapag-decide kung sino po ‘yung ina-adopt at susuportahan. So, it’s a party decision po,” he added.
The senator then expressed his hope for unity within the party when it comes to endorsing candidates in the upcoming elections.
“Being a member po ng PDP ay sana iisa po ang magiging direksyon ng lahat ng miyembro ng partido,” said Go.
“Kasi para naman po sa akin, para po sa akin personally as PDP member, kung sino po ‘yung makapagpatuloy ng magagandang programa ni Pangulong Duterte, […] iyon po ang gusto kong suportahan. At kung sino po ‘yung talagang ‘yung direksyon niya is ipagpatuloy, huwag sirain ‘yung momentum na naumpisahan na natin,” he added.
When asked about the state of the political party system in the country, Go speculated that existing political affiliations would change after Duterte’s term, saying that this is a reality of Philippine politics.
“After President Duterte, sa tingin ko watak-watak na rin ‘yan, Gano’n naman talaga that’s the reality of Philippine politics and our party system dito sa ating bansa,” said Go.
“At kahit kailan, kung sino ‘yung president sila ‘yung ruling party. After papalitan ng panibagong presidente ‘yon na naman ang magiging ruling party. So that’s the reality of Philippine politics,” he added. (PR) – bny
