Malacañang: “After over four decades in public service, the President plans to retire from government”
MALACAÑANG — Here’s what the Palace said after President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew his candidacy for senator in the 2022 elections.
On Tuesday, Malacañang said that the President withdrew his candidacy for senator in the 2022 elections in order to focus on overseeing the country’s pandemic response and ensuring peaceful elections.
Cabinet Secretary and acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles issued the statement after President Duterte filed a statement of withdrawal before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
According to Nograles, President Duterte planned to retire from the government after more than 4 decades in public service in order to spend more time with his family when his term ended in June 2022.
“The President believes that withdrawing from the Senate race will allow him to better focus on managing our pandemic response and sustain the progress we have made in the country and safely reopening the economy,” Nograles said. “He likewise views this as an opportunity to concentrate on efforts to ensure transparent, impartial, orderly and peaceful elections in May.“
Prior to this, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go formally withdrew his candidacy for president.
READ ALSO: Bong Go Formally Withdraws COC For President In 2022 Elections
President Duterte’s party PDP-Laban, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, initially nominated him as the vice-presidential candidate of the party for the 2022 elections.
At that time, then Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that President Duterte was running for vice president in 2022.
President Duterte then said that he would be retiring from politics after his term ended on June 30, 2022. However, the President filed a substitute COC for senator last month.
In filing his candidacy for senator, the President substituted for Liezl Visorde of PDDS (Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan).
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