After flip-flopping many times whether to retire from politics or pursue another public office, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, December 14 has officially decided to withdraw his senatorial bid in the 2022 national elections.
President Duterte personally filed his statement of withdrawal with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), just hours after his longtime aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, officially backed out of the presidential race.
The President has yet to disclose the reason behind his sudden withdrawal.
However, the move comes also just hours after his daughter — vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte-Carpio — announced that he is topping the list of her senatorial line-up in the upcoming polls.
The President was running as a senatorial aspirant from Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).
Previously, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said aspirants in the upcoming national polls may still withdraw their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for as long as it's done before the May elections.
However, voluntary withdrawals cannot be substituted.
