Bong Go declines PDP-Laban's presidential endorsement for 2022

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 30) — Senator Bong Go on Monday formally declined the endorsement of PDP-Laban to be the ruling party’s presidential candidate with President Rodrigo Duterte as his running mate in the upcoming national elections.

Go reiterated that he is not interested to become the country's president, saying he remains focused on his chairmanship role in the Senate's health panel.

"As much as I wish to respond to the clamor of many of our partymates, I respectfully decline the said endorsement," he said in a statement addressed to the party wing led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Cusi's group remains hopeful that Go will change his mind, saying he is the "logical" successor of Duterte.

Duterte has accepted the nomination to be PDP-Laban's vice presidential candidate in the 2022 elections, but said he will give way if his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, guns for the presidency.

READ: Analyst says PDP-Laban faction's Go-Duterte tandem only a 'ploy' to coerce Sara's 2022 plans

The other PDP-Laban faction led by Senator Koko Pimentel, meanwhile, is rooting for Sen. Manny Pacquiao to run for president.