The election commission’s spokesperson confirmed that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew his candidacy for a senate seat on Tuesday.
Duterte’s term as president will expire in June 2022, and the constitution prohibits him from running for re-election.
Last month, the president reversed his decision to retire from politics and filed his candidacy for re-election to Congress under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).
The PDDS is an ally of the PDP-Laban faction, of which he is a member.
Duterte’s decision comes just hours after his longtime ally and aide Sen. Bong Go announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Duterte’s presidential campaign in 2016 resulted in his election victory.
During his presidency, his domestic policy has been centered on combating the illegal drug trade by launching the contentious war on drugs, combating crime and corruption, launching a massive infrastructure plan, and proposing a shift to a federal system of government.
He also oversaw Ferdinand Marcos’ controversial burial, the 2017 Battle of Marawi, and the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He declared his intention to pursue a “independent foreign policy” and bolstered ties with China and Russia.
He initially declared his candidacy for vice president in the 2022 election, but in October 2021, he announced his retirement from politics, before filing his candidacy for Senator on November 4, 2022.