Out from nowhere, the former chief aide of President Duterte has made the “Magic 12” in the latest Social Weather Stations survey rankings.
Bong Go, erstwhile Special Assistant to the President, is tied for fifth place with re-electionist Sen. Edgardo Angara.
Expressing his gratitude, Go vowed to work harder to present his advocacies to the Filipino people.
“Nakakataba po ng puso na pinagtitiwalaan ninyo ang aking kakayahan at katapatan para mag-serbisyo sa ating bayan. Magsilbi po sana itong inspirasyon para lalo tayong magsikap na iparating sa ating mga kababayan ang mga programang ating nais isulong para sa kapakanan at kaunlaran ng bawat Pilipino,” Go said.
“Nais kong baguhin ang pagiisip ng tao na ang isang simpleng probinsyano na nagtatrabaho bilang staff, hindi sikat, hindi artista, hindi nanggaling sa pamilya ng pulitiko, ay pwedeng mangarap na magserbisyo sa kapwa sa mas malaking kapasidad,” he added.
Go also thanked Duterte for endorsing his candidacy.
In his recent sorties, the President has vouched for the character and integrity of his former top aide. “Malaking bagay po na inindorso tayo ni Pangulong Digong na pinagsilbihan ko sa loob ng mahigit na 20 taon at talagang nakakakilala sa aking pagkatao. Maraming salamat, Pangulong Duterte. Patunay lamang ito na malakas ang paniniwala ng ating mga kababayan sa pagbabagong gusto ng Pangulo,” Go said.
Go’s surge in the rating of senatorial candidates came with just more than a week to go before the start of the campaign period for national candidates in the 2019 midterm elections.
Retaining the lead position in the SWS survey is Sen. Grace Poe, followed by Sen. Cynthia Villar in second
place, former Sen. Lito Lapid in third place, and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano in fourth.
Sen. Nancy Binay is in seventh place, while former Senators Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II and Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla are tied in the eighth-ninth place.
Completing the Magic 12 are Sen. Koko Pimentel (10th), Sen. Bam Aquino (11th), and former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.