DOTr’s Tugade no longer running for senator in Eleksyon 2022

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Saturday said he would not run for senator in the May 2022 elections.

Tugade was among those initially included in the PDP-Laban Cusi wing’s senatorial slate.

The weeklong calendar for the filing of COCs ended on Friday, October 8.

“I decided not to file my certificate of candidacy (COC) for multiple reasons,” Tugade said in a statement.

“One of which is by not filing my COC, I can emphasize that the efforts of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in finishing projects are not, in any way, in aid of election. It is just in doing and completing what we sincerely and honestly think is good for the country, the people, and the sambayanan,” he added.

Tugade said he would continue working on finishing the projects of the DOTr.

“Tuloy ang trabaho sa pagtatapos ng proyekto. Tuloy ang pagtawag pansin sa mga tamang gawa,” he said.

(We will continue to finish the projects. We will continue to recognize honest work.)

“Maraming maraming salamat po sa tiwala, suporta at dasal. Sana po ay tuloy-tuloy ito hanggang matapos ang mga proyekto,” he added.

(Thank you for the trust, support, and prayers. I hope these will continue until the projects are finished.)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday commended Tugade for the work done on Bicol International Airport (BIA) which started commercial operations on Friday.

"I'd like to commend Tugade for the splendid work that he has done," Duterte said during his Talk to the People, adding that the BIA, in his opinion, is the 2nd most beautiful airport in the country next to Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

"Kaya lang sayang na ayaw niyang tumakbo ng senador. Kumpletuhin niya daw iyong projects niya tapos pareho kami siguro mag-retire. Sabay-sabay kami," the President said. —LBG/VBL/KG, GMA News