DU30 to retire from politics, Bong Go to run for VP
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte withdrew from the vice presidential race and had Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go replace him instead.
Duterte accompanied Go who filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president at the Sofitel Manila in Pasay City on Saturday.
Go was originally nominated for president by the group of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) and Duterte for vice president.
Cusi and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea were present.
Duterte announced that he will retire from politics, shelving aside his plans to run for vice president in the 2022 national elections.
Duterte made the announcement in a short speech shortly after Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president, saying now that he is adhering to the “overwhelming sentiment of Filipinos.”
“I’d like to express myself to the entire nation. The universal sentiment of the Filipino has been reflected in the different surveys and in many forums and well caucuses and meetings to discuss what I should do in my life. The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipinos is that I am not qualified, and it would be a violation of the constitution to circumvent the law, the spirit of the Constitution,” Duterte said.
“And so in obedience to the will of the people, who after all placed me in the presidency many years ago, I now say sa mga kababayan ko na sundin ko ang gusto ninyo. Today, I announce my retirement from politics,” he added.
