IF the presidential election would be held today, the tandem of Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte would emerge victorious, says a survey commissioned by Pulse Asia last February.
In its survey conducted from February 10 to 19, results show that the Go-Duterte tandem earned the highest voter preference, getting the nod of 32 percent of the respondents nationwide.
The pair received the highest score in Mindanao (62 percent), followed by the Visayas (39 percent), Metro Manila (21 percent) and Balance Luzon (18 percent).
At far second is the pair of Senator Grace Poe and Senate President Vicente Sotto III obtaining 32 percent.
Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senator Manny Pacquiao only managed to get 17 percent while the pair of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso had 11 percent.
Oddly though, a team-up between Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan got the lowest voter preference at 8 percent.
On Wednesday, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo categorically described Go as “ripe” to become the next president.
“Hinog na rin si Senator Christopher Bong Go na maging presidente sapagkat yung mga kakayahan at qualities ni Presidente ay nailipat na sa kaniya,” added Panelo, even as he warned other presidential wannabes against underestimating Duterte’s longtime aide.
“Huwag ninyong mamaniin ang pagtakbo ni Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go bilang presidente. Baka kayo ay magkamali diyan (Do not belittle Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go when he runs for president. It would be a mistake do that),” he said.
In an event in Cagayan de Oro, the President even referred to Go as “president.”
