MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go officially withdrew his presidential candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila on Tuesday morning, exactly two weeks after declaring his withdrawal.
Go personally submitted his statement of withdrawal to the poll body’s Law Department without fanfare. According to Comelec data, the document was received at 10:46 a.m.
“I am no longer in this race to run for the presidency in 2022, I spoke last November 30, I just waited a little while to let my supporters know that my heart and my mind really re-resisted to run as President,” Go said in an interview.
Go, who went to the Comelec office on his own, said he felt it was the appropriate time to file his withdrawal. Even his party, the PDP-Laban, had no idea he was filing the withdrawal on Tuesday.
“No one knows. Because if I let them know, many will know,” the senator said.
“I’m just looking for the right time. Honestly, I was the only one who came here, I just took a taxi. My security and driver, I didn’t inform them that I was going here,” he said.
When asked who among the presidential candidates he will support in the May 9, 2022 elections, Go suggested someone who can continue President Rodrigo Duterte’s programs.
“The President and I will talk about it on who can continue the good programs started by President Duterte, Build, Build, Build program, help the poor, that’s what the President and I will support,” he said.
Go declared his withdrawal from the May 2022 elections last month. He is the ruling party’s standard bearer.
He initially filed his COC for vice president. However, on November 13, he withdrew his first COC and filed a new one for President, substituting Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
