ELECTIONS 2022: Marcoleta shuts down senate bid

SAGIP party-list representative and ABS-CBN franchise killer Rodante Marcoleta is withdrawing his senate candidacy in the upcoming 2022 elections due to poor survey performance.

“The fighter in me should also be brave enough to read the writings on the wall. Let’s call a spade a spade,” he said.

Marcoleta expressed gratitude to his backers whom he owes a lot for throughout the campaign – President Rodrigo Duterte, PDP-Laban and People’s Reform Party, and the UniTeam of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“I will be indebted forever to several people who chipped in their resources, time and tons of hardwork (sic) into my memorable campaign,” he said. “I thank the hundreds of parallel support groups and thousand[s] of volunteers who believed in my advocacies and the measures that must be pursued for the common good.”

He added, “I just hope that they will all be so kind and accommodating enough to understand.”

Marcoleta mentioned that he will continue his support for the tandem of Marcos Jr. and Davao City mayor Sara Duterte, saying that the two exemplify “the politics of unity and working together, despite the divergent political persuasions, for the sake of the motherland”, the platform UniTeam has regurgitated throughout the campaign.

Marcos spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez mentioned that they were saddened with Marcoleta’s decision. He believes that “there must be a higher reason behind it.”

“We respect this move and express deep appreciation for his continuous support for the BBM-Sara tandem and the UniTeam, despite his decision to withdraw,” Rodriguez said. “At this point, we submit to serendipity, that everything happens form the point of view of destiny, believing that in the end, Rep. Marcoleta might be serving a different, yet a higher purpose.”

Marcoleta is one of Duterte’s 17 endorsed candidates.

Mark Ernest Famatigan is a news writer who focuses on Philippine politics. He is an advocate for press freedom and regularly follows developments in the Philippine economy. The views expressed are his own.

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