Bong Go joins PMCC prayer for clean, peaceful elections

MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential assistant Christopher “Bong” Go joined the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (PMCC) on Friday in praying for clean, honest and peaceful elections in the country on May 13.

Go thanked the PMCC for inviting him to their gathering at the Marikina City Sports Complex and allowing him to speak before the gathering.

Go said it was his second time to attend a gathering of the PMCC. Go was earlier invited to grace the PMCC International Missionary Day last Jan. 14 at the AATF Complex in Imus, Cavite.

Go said the PMCC gathering triggered a memory in 2015 when a lot of supporters were trying to convince then Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte to run for president. Go said Duterte’s reply made an indelible imprint in his memory. 

“Ten percent of your life is ruled by you while 90 percent is destiny. Destiny is instructed by God; it is not ruled by mortals. We do not know when will we be born or die, so let us place everything in the hands of God. If God intends that I will be a candidate of honor, I will be there. But if God does not want, I will not be there,” Go said, quoting Duterte.

“In other words, no one could predict our future…only God knows,” Go told the PMCC gathering.

He said any position of authority, privilege or power given to him is in accordance with God’s will, not a product of his own effort or skill. 

Respecting the spirit of the PMCC gathering, Go clarified he is not campaigning before them.

“I am not here to campaign. Deep in your hearts you know who is the better Filipino who can serve his fellow Filipino,” he said.

Go, however, assured the PMCC that they could rely on him to bring to the President’s attention any concern that they may have.

Go also made the pitch of his commitment to support the programs and policies of the President.

“The President told me he is determined to do all the things for the good of the Filipino, even if it could cost his freedom someday. And I will never leave him,” Go said.

Go said his running for the Senate is to help Duterte serve the Filipino people. 

Another senatorial aspirant, reelectionist Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, made the pitch for a federal system of government.

‘Warlordism’

Pimentel took exception to the statements made by presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who expressed apprehension that shifting to a federal system of government could result in warlordism.

“Warlords had been here in the present system of government,” Pimentel said in an interview with dwIZ yesterday.

Pimentel, however, was quick to clarify that he is willing to listen to Carpio’s opinion on federalism.

For his part, reelectionist Sen. Sonny Angara called for a more aggressive immunization campaign to ensure that life-saving vaccines reach as many Filipino children as possible.

“We need to be more aggressive in ensuring that every Filipino child receives vaccines to protect him against preventable illnesses. We have to make sure that our immunization program reaches even the hardest to reach child,” Angara said.

Close to 30,000 measles cases, including 389 deaths, were recorded nationwide since January this year.

Reelectionist Sen. Nancy Binay, for her part, pitched for more clean indoor play areas inside malls, restaurants and commercial centers nationwide.

Under Senate Bill 2174 which Binay filed to establish a cleanliness and safety standard program for indoor play areas, the Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall establish a program providing for regular inspection of all indoor play areas by local health inspectors, not less frequent than once every year.