Jiggy Manicad leaves media for ‘next level’ of public service

MANILA, Philippines —Days after being announced as a prospective senatorial candidate under the ruling PDP-Laban party, veteran news anchor and reporter Jiggy Manicad announced his exit from his news program.

In a statement aired Saturday evening, Manicad said he is leaving Philippine media to jump to the “next level” of public service.

“Sa 23 years ko pong pagiging journalist, naniniwala po akong kahit papaano ay nakapaghatid ako sa inyo ng public service at nawa po samahan ninyo ako sa pagsubok kong pumasok sa ibang lebel ng serbisyo publiko, (In my 23 years of being a journalist, I believe that I rendered public service somehow. I hope you will be with me as I try to join the next level of public service,)” Manicad said.

Manicad thanked the public as he bid goodbye to his shows on the GMA network “Quick Response Team” and “24 Oras Weekend.”

"Thank you for your trust in me as a journalist – trust, integrity and credibility,” he said in Filipino.

On Thursday, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III announced the names of people being considered to run as senators under the PDP-Laban.

The list includes Manicad and 19 others.

News5 reported the following names that Pimentel gave:

• Senate President Koko Pimentel

• Sen. Grace Poe

• Sen. Sonny Angara

• Sen. Cynthia Villar

• Sen. JV Ejercito

• Sen. Nancy Binay

• Rep. Ace Barbers

• Rep. Albee Benitez

• Rep. Karlo Nograles

• Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu

• Rep. Geraldine Roman

• Rep. Rey Umali

• Rep. Pia Cayetano

• Special assistant to the president Bong Go

• Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque

• President’s political adviser Francis Tolentino

• Presidential Communications assistant secretary Mocha Uson

• Former Interior and Local Government chief Raffy Alunan

• GMA-7 reporter Jiggy Manicad 

• Folk musician Freddie Aguilar

The PDP-Laban is set to finalize its senatorial slate for the 2019 elections by September.