Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo believes former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher ‘Bong’ Go will win ‘overwhelmingly’ in the senatorial race next year.
“I think he will win overwhelmingly,” Panelo said in an interview over CNN Philippines.
With no less than President Rodrigo Duterte accompanying him, Go filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on Monday.
The Presidential Spokesperson clarified that Go did not use government resources when Duterte joined him in filing his COC.
“Go did not use the government resources when Duterte joined him in filing his COC.”
“No, I don’t think. You know, Bong Go has so many supporters, also supporters of the President who helped him during the presidential campaign. They will be doing the same for Bong,” said Panelo.
Panelo, during a regular Palace press briefing, said Comelec also did not give Go any special treatment.
“Hindi naman pinaburan. Siguro ang nangyari dun hindi nila akalain na darating ang Presidente (There was no special treatment. Perhaps, what happened was they (Comelec) were not aware that the President will come),” he explained.
Panelo added that Go also did not violate the Comelec’s rule which limits to only four the number of people who may accompany a candidate when filing their COC.
“Ang pumunta lang doon ay si Presidente at tatlong Cabinet members. So pasok doon sa apat. Ang problema maraming sumama at dahil hindi nga nila anticipated yun, natural talagang mahihirapan sila(Only the President and three Cabinet members went there. So it’s only four. The problem was many have joined (inside) and since they did not anticipate, naturally they encountered problem),” he added.
Meanwhile, Panelo said Duterte has yet to choose Go’s replacement as his special assistant.
According to media reports, Duterte picked Charmalou Aldevera, a lawyer from Davao City, to replace Go as new SAP.
“Baka isa sya sa mga pinagpipilian (Maybe she is just one of the choices),” he said when asked to confirm Aldevera’s appointment.
He said Duterte has also yet to choose Go’s replacement as head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).
Panelo said Duterte will announce ‘anytime soon’ the replacements of other Cabinet members who will run in 2019 midterm polls.
“Duterte will announce anytime soon the replacements of Cabinet members who will run in 2019 midterm polls.”
He assured that public services will not be affected since officers-in-charge will take over the vacated positions.
Aside from Go, other Cabinet members who will be running in the 2019 polls include resigned Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, resigned Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and resigned Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco.
