Duterte withdraws 2022 Senate bid

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday withdrew his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator for the 2022 elections.

Duterte made the move on the same day that his long-time aide and Senator Christopher "Bong" withdrew his COC for president.

"The President has filed his withdrawal from the Senatorial elections," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a tweet.

The President has filed his withdrawal from the Senatorial elections. pic.twitter.com/f8TJekehqQ

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) December 14, 2021

Duterte's party PDP-Laban, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, initially nominated him as the party's vice presidential bet for the 2022 polls.

Duterte then said that he would be retiring from politics after his term ends on June 30, 2022. Last month, he filed a substitute COC for Senator.

In filing his COC for senator, the President substituted for Liezl Visorde of Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).  Two days before this happened, Go filed a substitute COC for president, also under PDDS.

To date, the camps of Duterte and Go have not announced when and where these officials took oath as PDDS members. — BM, GMA News