Citing health reasons, former ambassador and presidential candidate Roy Señeres of the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka [Workers and Peasants Party] has withdrawn his candidacy for president, his lawyer announced on Friday.
Señeres’ lawyer and spokesperson Candelaria Rivas went to the Comelec office to file his client’s statement of withdrawal based on medical advise to avoid stress that may complicate his diabetes.
“I wish to inform you all that, after much thought and prayers to God Almighty, I am hereby announcing my withdrawal from the Philippine presidential race,” Rivas read from Señeres statement.
“I do so with the blessings of my family and upon the recommendation of my doctor, who has advised me to avoid stress due to my long-standing diabetes, so as to prevent the complications, thereof,” Señeres said.
However, the Comelec law department declined to accept the withdrawal in the absence of Señeres.
“They came here bearing a statement of withdrawal, but unfortunately the rules requires the withdrawal must be personally filed,” said lawyer Rex Laudiangco, head of the Comelec law department’s Legal Opinion and Research Division.
Laudiangco said Section 18 and 19 of Resolution 9984 strictly requires personal filing of withdrawals of Certificate of Candidacy.
Laudiangco said the camp of Señeres claimed that the latter is currently physically incapable to personally file his withdrawal.
“That’s why I advised them to attach a medical certificate or any doctor attestation or statement to that effect. And then we will elevate that to the en banc and let’s see if the en banc will grant it, if yes then so be it. If the en banc directs us to verify first the condition why he failed to personally file his withdrawal, let’s see,” Laudiangco added.
Rivas, for her part, said they will file the statement of withdrawal along with Señeres’ medical certificate on Monday.
But Laudiangco noted that even if the en banc accepts his withdrawal, there may not be enough time for the project management office to erase Señeres’ name from the official ballots as the Comelec is set to start the printing of 54 million official ballots on Monday.
“To withdraw is one thing, to have your name removed from the ballot is another. I don’t know if the timeline will still permit the removal of any names considering the list is already final,” he said, adding that as of Friday the project management office no longer accepted accept any edits in the ballots.
Aside from Señeres, other presidential candidates left are Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago of the People’s Reform Party, Sen. Grace Poe, Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
