Former Vice President and broadcaster Noli De Castro has withdrawn from the senatorial race just days after he filed his candidacy under Manila Mayor Isko Moreno's Aksyon Demokratiko party.
"Nais kong iparating sa lahat ng aking mga kaibigan at supporters na naghahanda na sanang tumulong sa akin, na nagpasiya akong hindi na ituloy ang aking kandidatura," De Castro said in a statement issued by Aksyon Demokratiko to the media on Wednesday.
"Napag-isip-isip kong mas makatutulong ako sa pagbibigay ng boses sa ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pamamahayag," he said.
ALSO READ:
LIST: Who Filed Candidacy for President, Vice President?
LIST: Who Filed Candidacy for Senator, Party-List Representative?
High-Voltage COVID Zapper, Dwarf Medium Want to be President, VP
Security Guard Wants to Run for Senator, Gets Cheers for Challenging Star Politics
De Castro left his anchor post in ABS-CBN's TV Patrol as he sought a political comeback 11 years after he stepped down as former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's vice president in 2010. He filed his certificate of candidacy on Oct. 8.
While he was no longer joining the senatorial race, De Castro said his desire to help did not falter.
"Patuloy tayong magiging boses ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa panahong katulad nito na ang boses na iyon ay nalulunod sa ingay ng pulitika at paggamit ng kapangyarihan para sa sariling interes ng iilan," he said.
Moreno said he respects De Castro's decision not to push through with his senatorial candidacy anymore.
"[We] wish him well because we know that he will continue to have the best interests of our people, as the Pambansang Kabayan, in his heart," he said in a separate statement.
De Castro topped the 2001 senatorial race but served only three years of his first six-year term after he was elected vice president in 2004.
Reportr is now on Quento. Download the app or visit the Quento website for more articles and videos from Reportr and your favorite websites.