Noli de Castro will no longer run for senator

Broadcaster and former vice president Noli de Castro on Wednesday decided to withdraw his candidacy for senator due to “change of plans.”

“Isinumite ko ang aking kandidatura sa Comelec noong Biyernes. Ngunit nagkaroon ng pagbabago ang aking plano,” De Castro said in a statement.

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“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.”

(I submitted my candidacy to the Comelec last Friday. But there has been a change of plan. I wish to inform my friends and supporters who were preparing to help me that I have decided not to push through with my candidacy.)

“Gayunpaman, hindi po nagbago ang aking layunin at hangad para sa bayan. Kasabay ng pagdarasal sa Poong Nazareno, napag-isip-isip kong mas makakatulong ako sa pagbibigay ng boses sa ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pamamahayag,” he said.

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(However, this does not change my goal for the country. While praying to the Nazarene, I realized I would be of greater help to the public if I stay in the field of broadcasting.)

Noli de Castro joined Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s Aksyon Demokratiko party in preparation for supposed senatorial race.

Noli de Castro will no longer run for senator

Meanwhile, Moreno said they respect de Castro’s decision.

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“In truth, when my team was convincing him to run once more for the Senate, he contemplated it for a long time,” Moreno said.

“We respect his decision to forego his re-entry into national politics, and 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.”

In the 2001 Philippine Senate election, de Castro garnered the most votes and was the top-notcher for that year, garnering over 16.2 million votes running as an Independent under the Puwersa ng Masa coalition, the opposition coalition that backed ousted President Joseph Estrada.

Nolie De Castro served as vice president under the leadership of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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