By Deighton Acuin and Archie Villaflores

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

Is President Rodrigo Duterte eyeing his former aide and now a Senator Christopher “Bong” Go to succeed his presidential post?

Duterte, in a visit to Cagayan de Oro on Friday, heaped praises on Go for hard work and even described him as “Presidente.”

Duterte and Go were attended a program on efforts to combat communist threats in Misamis Oriental. Several members of the Cabinet as well as the local government officials were present.

“Presidente, kindly stand up again let’s see if it suits you well. Stand up again. Stand up and wave to the people,” Duterte asked in Visayan his former assistant who was seated onstage for the event.

Duterte’s latest remark came a few months before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the upcoming 2022 national elections.

In his remarks, the President commended Go for his tireless public service, particularly citing his assistance to victims of fire incidents.

“He’s very hardworking. You always read his name in the newspapers, don’t you? If there’s a fire somewhere, he’ll go there wherever it may be. Just look at his endless flights. By afternoon when I fly back to Manila, he’d be there too,” he said.

“He graduated from La Salle Manila. He’s a Batangueño, on his father’s side. Just like my grandmother,” he added.

According to the President, the lawmaker has been on his side for over two decades.

“He was with me for 21 years. He was my… I started in 1988. With God’s grace, I never lost an election until I became the President,” he added.

The senator has often accompanied the President in his engagements in and out of the Palace despite his work as a legislator.


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