SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go said he hopes the next Senate president will promote the continuity of the good programs and initiatives by the Duterte Administration by passing measures that prioritize the welfare of struggling Filipinos, particularly in light of the ongoing pandemic.

“Sabi ko nga, makakapagpatuloy ng magagandang programa, ‘yung uunahin ang kapakanan ng mahihirap. Mga programang makakatulong na maiahon ang ating bayan mula sa pandemyang COVID-19 and, of course, s’ya po yung leadership by example,” Go responded when asked what traits the next Senate president should possess during an ambush interview after personally assisting fire victims at the Barangay UP Campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

“Isang boto lang naman po ako pero pipiliin ko po kung sino po ang makapagsusulong at makakapagpatuloy ng magagandang programa po ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte during his term (as SP),” he added.

The senator also said that the next Senate president must be someone who is respected by the Filipino people and who will maintain that respect for the Senate.

“‘Yung rerespetuhin po natin. Makakapagbigay po ng respeto sa amin sa Upper Chamber,” he noted.

In the event of a supermajority, Go reassured the public that the Senate shall remain independent. He also told Filipinos that he will remain a “quietly working senator”.

“Ako naman po ay miyembro ng majority but rest assured po, isang boto lang naman po ako, isang boses lang naman po ako out of the 24 senators d’yan sa Senado,” said Go.

“Pero rest assured po na bagama’t tahimik lang po akong magtatrabaho, ‘quietly working’ senator po ako. Pero uunahin ko pa rin po ang interes at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” he continued.

Asked if he has been solicited for support by a fellow senator running for Senate president, Go responded that it is unavoidable. However, he said that no final decision will be made until the opening of the next Senate session.

“Normal naman po ‘yung nag-uusap po ang bawat miyembro, ‘yung present members po ng 18th Congress na hindi pa natatapos ang termino, katulad namin, kami nasa second half na (ng aming term),” said Go.

“Tapos ang mga bagong halal, nag-uusap rin. Pero wala pa pong pinal na desisyon. Antayin na lang po natin ang pagbubukas on 4th Monday po ng July,” he added.

Finally, when asked if he still wants to chair the Senate Health Committee, Go replied that he would be pleased to serve his country wherever he may be useful and helpful.

“Sabi ko, kung saan po ako makakatulong sa mga kababayan natin lalung-lalo na sa mga mahihirap, I’m willing to accept the challenge po,” the senator said.

“Rerespetuhin ko po ‘yung desisyon ng majority. Magtatrabaho lang po ako. Tahimik, tahimik d’yan sa gilid. Magta-trabaho po para sa kapakanan at interes ng bawat Pilipino,” he ended.