From denial to filing: SAP Bong’s senatorial bid is now a go

MANILA, Philippines — After months of denials and disavowals, presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go finally filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections on Monday.

And who went with him at Comelec? No less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself and some Cabinet officials. Duterte even sat across Go as the latter submitted his COC before a poll official.

Security was also tightened with two rows in the area where the press are located vacated to accommodate Cabinet officials like Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Go, who repeatedly said he is not interested in running because he is committed to assisting Duterte, formalized his candidacy on the third day of filing.

Over an hour before he went to Comelec, Go told reporters at San Miguel church that he would indeed be running for Senate.

Talk about Go’s senatorial bid began going around after Duterte encouraged his assistant to testify in the Senate for a controversial frigate deal. He called it a "golden opportunity" for Go's senatorial plans.

The presidential aide, however, dismissed this as a joke and denied having any interest to run.

"I am committed to stand beside him 'til kingdom come," Go said in February.

READ: Bong Go: Duterte just joking about senatorial bid

Despite this, speculations on Go’s senatorial bid persisted due to posters, billboards and other items associated with election campaigns that bore his name and likeness. He was also continuously seen at events to represent the president.

Go even graced a meet-and-greet session with overseas Filipino workers in South Korea, clarifying that it was not funded by the government.

Last July, Go said he was leaving the decision on running for senator to Duterte.

 On Tuesday, Go was also identified by the president as one of the Cabinet officials set to run for the mid-term polls.

This is Go’s first time to run for office.