Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (File photo)

Forty-five governors from different political party expressed their support on Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go candidacy for vice president under PDP-Laban

In joint statement, the governors hailed Go’s “wide and valuable” insights on both local and national governance, as well as his offered solutions for pressing issues in the country.

“We, provincial governors, crossing party lines, support the candidacy for vice president of Senator  Bong Go and vow to campaign tirelessly for his election to the country’s second highest elective position,” the statement read.

The following governors who have expressed support for Go’s vice presidential bid are:

1. Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar)
2. Edwin Ong (Northern Samar)
3. Michael Tan (Western Samar)
4. Dominic Petilla (Leyte)
5. Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte)
6. Roger Espina (Biliran)
7. Dax Cua (Quirino)
8. Jim S Hataman Salliman (Basilan)
9. Jose Alvarez (Palawan)
10. Zaldy Villa (Siquijor)
11. Imelda Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte)
12. Edgar Tallado (Camarines Norte)
13. Migz Villafuerte (Camarines Sur)
14. Gov. Jose Riano (Romblon)
15. Dale Corvera (Agusan del Norte)
16. Jun Ebdane (Zambales)
17. Bonz Dolor (Oriental Mindoro)
18. Nancy Catamco (Cotabato province)
19. Arthur Yap (Bohol province)
20. Wilter Palma (Zamboanga Sibugay)
21. Melchor Diclas (Benguet)
22. Roberto Uy (Zamboanga del Norte)
23. Oyie Umali (Nueva Ecija)
24. Gwen Garcia (Cebu)
25. Noel Degamo (Negros Oriental)
26. Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo (Camiguin)
27. Presby Velasco (Marinduque)
28. Gerardo A. Noveras (Aurora Province)
29. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III (La Union)
30. Maria Jocelyn Valera Bernos (Abra)
31. Hernilando Mandanas (Batangas)
32. Bonz Dolor (Oriental Mindoro)
33. Al Francis Bichara (Albay)
34. Jose Riano (Romblon)
35. Joven Miraflores (Aklan)
36. Ayik Pimentel (Surigao del Sur)
37. Vic Yu (Zamboanga del Sur)
38. Abdusakur “Sakur” Tan (Sulu)
39. Joseph Cua (Catanduanes)

40. Bonifacio Lacwasan (Mt. Province)
41. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang (Apayao)
42. Susan Yap (Tarlac)
43. Rodito Albano III (Isabela)
44. Amado Espino III (Pangasinan)
45. Frank Matugas (Surigao del Norte)

    The provincial governors said Go, from being President Rodrigo Duterte’s long-time aide to being a senator, is ready to take on the challenge as the second highest official in the country if the lawmaker wins in the next year’s elections.

    “Such experience has prepared him adequately for elective public office – as senator and hopefully as vice president. Having come from the ranks of local public servants, we have no doubt that Bong Go understands the issues we face 24/7 in our respective provinces,” they said.

    They believed that Go, if elected vice president, would continue Duterte’s programs, including the relentless efforts to fight illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

    “These are some of the problems we continue to face as local officials, despite the administration’s gains in stamping out such nefarious activities,” the governors said.

    They also expressed confidence that Go would ensure that the country’s economic development would further improve and more job opportunities would be offered to Filipinos through the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

    They likewise noted that with only over two years of being a senator, Go has been able to institutionalize the Malasakit Center, a project he and Duterte started before the former presidential aide joined the Senate, by being a principal author of Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

    They lauded Go for making affordable healthcare accessible to Filipinos through the Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop for medical and financial assistance for the sick.

    “There are now at least 138 Malasakit Centers in public hospitals throughout the country. These centers serve hundreds of sick poor Filipinos every day,” the governors said.

    Go, who was initially proclaimed as the presidential candidate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, filed on Oct. 2 his COC for vice president, a position originally offered to Duterte who announced his plan to retire from public service after his term ends in June 2022.