‘This is why in my book, Christopher “Bong” Go (now usually referred to as SBG) is a player for 2028.’
FOR the longest time, the senatorial elections have been seen as a gauge of a politician’s presidential potential. Not in terms of capability, of course. Many truly capable politicians do not rank well in Senatorial elections and most don’t even make it; the senatorial race is seen as a gauge of presidential potential on the issue of vote-getting.
Both are national elections, with the whole eligible Filipino voting population voting for a President as well as a Senator. And so, to a certain extent, yes, it is true that if you can poll well on a Senate race, then it can mean you can poll well in a presidential race.
Topping the Senate race, therefore, is seen as a sign that you can be a formidable presidential candidate. With some caveats.
This is why in my book, Christopher “Bong” Go (now usually referred to as SBG) is a player for 2028. As the closest adviser and confidant of the popular former president, Go, over six years, was able to establish a significant network of political friends he had helped in one way or another, in a way no one else was able to do. Senators, congressmen, governors, mayors – all of them had to connect with Bong Go when Rody Duterte was president if they wanted something or needed something that only Malacanang could give.
And then he built on that when he masterfully “fathered” the Malasakit centers all over the Philippines, centers that have been the lifeline of millions of Filipinos desperate for some form of medical or health assistance for themselves or for a loved one. Malasakit meant Bong Go and Bong Go was Mr. Malasakit.
No one has come close to wrapping such a noble project around himself the way SBG has.
And this is why SBG topped the 2025 Senatorial elections. He is a key player in the Duterte faction of our political divide; he had been able to establish a wide network of friends and allies over the years he has been in Malacanang and the Senate; to the general public whom he has helped he has been a lifesaver and Filipinos do not forget their “utang na loob.”
SBG’s only problem is that he has a rival to the claim of being the political heir of the still popular FPPRD – Sara Duterte herself. Not only is Sara the first daughter, she also happens to be the vice president of the Philippines (at least as of this writing). And so, it can be argued that the title of heir is Sara’s even without her asking, and only a major political upheaval can result in SBG claiming that title. Now, what can such an upheaval be?
On the face of it, VP Sara, who polled 32 million in 2022, is truly a formidable player.
But remember that those 32 million included votes from the Marcos camp, now estranged. SBG polled 27 million, but it can be argued that it was in a race where he was one of 12. So, each claim to fame of having tens of millions of votes also has a “but.”
And here’s another.
I tried an unscientific poll of people, giving them a stark choice: what if 2028 was simply down to Sara and SBG, who would you choose? Sixteen individuals, including six Grab drivers, three women (two from Mindanao), an INC member, an Ilocano, and one from Davao City.
It was 10-5-1, for Bong Go. All three women went for Bong Go. Sara polled five, with one respondent refusing to choose, saying he would rather kill himself. And interestingly, all three women chose Go, with one from Mindanao saying, “I’m a woman too. Sara is too emotional.”
The numbers, unscientific as they are, surprised me. But it may not surprise SBG.
So, will Bong Go for it?
