Senate topnotcher Christopher “Bong” Go was melancholic in his victory interview when he indicated that he campaigned without his boss and mentor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Go, nonetheless, revealed his newfound strength amid his misgivings as he said, “I had to rely completely on my own efforts. It was not like 2019 when it was a midterm election and President Duterte was still around.”
The change is that he was the most preferred by voters for the Senate now, but not before.
“This was the most difficult campaign I’ve ever had. It was all on me,” he said.
Duterte is detained in The Hague, Netherlands, facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Go’s political career is deeply intertwined with his role as Mr. Duterte’s longtime aide and protégé. This relationship, spanning over two decades, transformed Go from a behind-the-scenes assistant to a prominent national figure.
Go is the son of Davao-based businessman Desiderio Go and Batangas native Marichu Tesoro-Go. His grandfather, August Tesoro, founded one of Davao City’s largest printing companies.
Go attended La Salle Green Hills for high school and initially pursued a management degree at De La Salle University before transferring to Ateneo de Davao University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
His early exposure to political events, such as witnessing the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt as a 12-year-old, sparked an interest in public affairs that would later define his career.
His political journey began in 1998 as executive assistant and personal aide to then Davao City 1st District Representative Rodrigo Duterte.
This marked the start of a relationship spanning nearly three decades where Go served as Duterte’s “all-around man” handling both personal and official matters.
Thereafter, Go’s role expanded, earning him the reputation as Duterte’s most trusted confidant.
The senator described himself as Duterte’s “eyes and ears,” a role that required loyalty and discretion. At the same time, his proximity to the President gave him insights into Davao’s political machine and Duterte’s tough governance style against crime and drugs, which later shaped Go’s own political path.
During Duterte’s 2016 presidential campaign, Go gained attention as the “national photobomber,” appearing in nearly every campaign photo alongside Duterte.
His constant presence around Duterte earned for him the moniker of “nucleus of calm” in contrast to the fiery demeanor of his mentor.
Following Duterte’s 2016 presidential victory, Go was appointed Special Assistant to the President (SAP) on 2 June 2016, with the main task of supervising the Presidential Management Staff, elevating his role from a local aide to a national figure.
As SAP, Go was Duterte’s gatekeeper, managing access to the president and overseeing policy implementation, coordinating relief efforts and promoting initiatives.
A brainchild was the Malasakit Centers, one-stop shops for medical and financial aid for indigent patients, which became his signature project.
Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018, streamlining government aid for healthcare. He later authored Republic Act 11463, signed by Duterte in 2019, which institutionalized the centers nationwide.
The program’s visibility catapulted him to prominence, particularly among the poor, the primary beneficiaries of the one-stop healthcare service kiosks.
Duterte actively endorsed Go in the 2019 Senate campaign where he placed third in the Senate race with over 20 million votes. His victory established him as a national politician, though critics noted his reliance on the Duterte brand.
“Alone,” he garnered six million more votes in the recent midterm polls.
“Put the interest of the Filipino people first, and everything else will follow,” was a lesson the mentor imparted to his ward.
“God is good, God is fair, and He blesses those who remain humble,” was another.
Go’s successful 2025 Senate run was his coming-out party.