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Agence France-Presse

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s chosen successor on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the 2022 presidential race, saying it was “not yet my time”.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, a close aide to the president, entered the contest for the country’s highest office two days before the November 15 deadline, after previously registering for the vice presidential race.
His sudden exit narrows the field of candidates vying to replace Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term. He is running for the Senate.
“My family doesn’t want it either so I thought maybe this is not yet my time,” Go told reporters.
Is Duterte’s cocaine claim sign of deeper feud with Marcos family?
Go said his decision to withdraw was also to avoid causing “more problems” for Duterte, who he professed to love “more than as a father”.
“I remain loyal to him and I promise to be with him forever,” Go said.
“In the past few days I realised that my heart and my mind are contradicting my own actions.”
Most analysts had given Go little chance of success in the May election, though he was the most likely candidate to protect Duterte from criminal charges in the Philippines, and an International Criminal Court investigation into his deadly drug war.


“From the very start he has launched a lukewarm campaign and it’s very obvious that he was just thrust into that job by President Duterte,” said Jean Franco, a political-science professor at the University of the Philippines.
The son and namesake of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos has a commanding lead in the race, according to a recent survey by respected polling outfit Social Weather Stations.
Marcos Jnr was followed by incumbent vice-president and Duterte critic Leni Robredo, celebrity mayor Francisco Domagoso and boxing great Manny Pacquiao.
Could the colour pink swing the Philippine presidential election?
Duterte has been an ally of the controversial Marcos family, which had gone into exile in the US after the patriarch’s humiliating downfall in 1986.
But recently Duterte has been publicly critical of Marcos Jnr, describing him as a “weak leader … saddled with baggage”.
Sara Duterte, his daughter, had been widely expected to run for president.
But she has filed her candidacy for vice-president, a position which holds very little power, and formed an alliance with Marcos Jnr.

Go’s exit from the “tight election race” could strengthen the “political force” of Marcos Jnr and Sara, said Franco.
But she doubted that Duterte would endorse Marcos Jnr for his job.
Go’s decision also comes after a tumultuous week when many of the leading presidential and vice-presidential candidates took drug tests after Duterte accused an unnamed candidate of snorting cocaine.


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The Philippines

Philippine leader Duterte’s preferred successor Christopher Go quits presidential race

Supporters of Philippine senator Christopher Go gather outside the Commission on Elections in Manila. Photo: Reuters

Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte (left) raises the hand of senator Christopher Go after he filed his candidacy for presidency in Manila on November 13. Photo: AFP

Students take selfie with Sara Duterte in Davao City, southern Philippines. File photo: Reuters

The Manchurian candidate: why China’s interest in the Philippine election is under scrutiny as Duterte prepares to leave office

Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr, son of the late Philippine dictator, is running for the presidency. Photo: AFP

Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr: China’s favourite? Photo: EPA

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his eldest daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is standing for the vice-presidency in May’s election. Photo: Kyodo

Philippine Vice President Vice-President Leni Robredo has accused Duterte of favouring China. Photo: Xinhua

Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep star in ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ film based on the Cold War thriller. Photo: Reuters

Ferdinand Marcos Jnr as a child with his father, the late dictator. Photo: Malacanang Museum and Library

Seven Philippine presidential hopefuls to watch, from ‘Bongbong’ Marcos to Leni Robredo and Manny Pacquiao

Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Photo: Reuters

Senator Manny Pacquiao has vowed to fight corruption and poverty and stop the brutal war on drugs. Photo: Xinhua

Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr says he will continue President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘policy of engagement’ with China. Photo: AP

Manila City Mayor Francisco says he will use The Hague arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute as a bargaining chip with China. Photo: AP

Philippine Vice-President Leni Robredo has vowed to address the Covid-19 pandemic, the food crisis and job losses in her first 100 days. Photo: AP 

Leodigario de Guzman wants to repeal Panfilo Lacson’s anti-terrorism act and abolish Duterte’s anti-terrorism law. Photo: Handout

Senator Panfilo Lacson has vowed to continue Duterte’s war on drugs with ‘tweaks’. Photo: EPA

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) raises the hand of Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go after he files his candidacy for president. Photo: AFP

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Asia

Southeast Asia


The senator, who entered the contest for the top job two days before the November 15 deadline, said this is ‘not yet my time’
His sudden exit narrows the field of candidates vying to replace Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term



The senator, who entered the contest for the top job two days before the November 15 deadline, said this is ‘not yet my time’.


Rodrigo Duterte

Asia elections