Go thanks Rody for victory

Re-elected Sen. Bong Go attributed his top finish in the Senate race to former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is awaiting trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity in connection with his administration's bloody war on drugs.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

"This is historic, so far the highest vote for a senator. It's overwhelming and humbling for me. My win is also Tatay Digong's win," said Go, a long-time Duterte aide who may also face arrest by the International Criminal Court for his alleged direct role in the drug war killings.

Go finished first place in the Senate race, garnering 27,121,073 votes based on the Commission on Elections' officially canvassed results.

Go called Duterte their team's "biggest endorser" and "campaign manager" until his arrest last March.

Pundits say Go and two other Duterte allies — Ronald dela Rosa and Rodante Marcoleta — benefitted from the controversy triggered by the arrest of Duterte and his flight to The Hague.

Dela Rosa, Duterte's former national police chief, is said to be the next to be ordered arrested as chief implementor of Duterte's drug war.