Like a loyal soldier that he is, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed his gratitude to former President Rodrigo Duterte giving acknowledging the latter’s guidance and inspiration to public service.
During his proclamation as a senator-elect on Saturday, Go said the former president shaped his political career.
“Hinding-hindi rin matutumbasan ang aking pasasalamat kay dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, na naging mentor at inspirasyon ko sa pagseserbisyo sa higit dalawang dekada. Huwag nating kalimutan ang kaniyang serbisyo para sa sambayanang Pilipino,” he said in his message.
Go added that FPRRD always emphasize to him to do what is right and to always put first the interests of every Filipino.
“Tinatandaan ko palagi ang sinasabi niya sa akin, ‘Just do, what is right. Gawin lang ang tama at hindi ka magkakamali, unahin ang interes ng bayan, unahin po ang interes ng bawat Pilipino'” he added.
Go, who ran under the Duterte-led PDP-Laban party, made history by garnering a record-breaking 27,121,073 votes, according to official data from the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), officially making him the current most-voted senator in the Philippine history.
He surpasses the previous record of 26,612,434 votes held by fellow PDP party leader and Senator Robin Padilla during the 2022 elections.
The senator led the other Duterte allies in the so-called “Magic 12” proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which included reelectionist Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos, and Senate newcomers Camille Villar and Rodante Marcoleta — both of whom were former House legislators.
Many credit Go’s victory in the Senate to his Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop for the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Malasakit Centers “provide medical and financial assistance to the indigent and financially incapacitated patients without their having to go out of the hospital to seek assistance from the said participating agencies,” according to the DSWD website.
Go reaffirmed his commitment emphasizing that his renewed mandate will be met with continued hard work and service.
“Let’s buckle down to work. Tapos na ang eleksyon. Mas kailangan po ng mga kababayan natin na magtrabaho po ang kanilang mga lider. Trabaho kaagad pagkatapos ng eleksyon para walang masasayang na oras,” he said.
After the proclamation ceremony on Saturday, Go went straight to Tondo, Manila to visit the fire victims.
