MANILA, Philippines (Updated 10:38 a.m.) — Veteran news anchor Noli de Castro is backing out from the 2022 senatorial race, saying that he would serve the people better if he would continue working in broadcasting.
“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,” De Castro said in a letter to his party, Aksyon Demokratiko.
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(I want to say to all my friends and supporters who are preparing to help me that I have decided not to continue with my candidacy.)
He added, "Napag-isip-isip kong mas makatutulong ako sa pagbibigay ng boses sa ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pamamahayag.”
(I got to thinking that it would better help our people by giving them a voice through broadcasting.)
De Castro thanked Aksyon Demokratiko and its standard bearer, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, for accepting him to the party.
Domagoso said in a statement that he respects De Castro’s decision to pull out from the senatorial race, which he attributed to “personal reasons.”
“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,” Domagoso said.
Aksyon Demokratiko chairperson Ernest Ramel said De Castro will continue to be a member of the party, despite the withdrawal of his candidacy.
The veteran newsman's decision to withdraw his candidacy came less than a week after he bid farewell to ABS-CBN to mount a senatorial bid.
It is still unclear whether he would make a return to ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast “TV Patrol.” Following De Castro’s departure, veteran broadcaster Karen Davila returned as one of the anchors of TV Patrol , which she previously anchored from 2004 to 2010.
De Castro previously topped the 2001 senatorial race, garnering 16.1 million votes. But he did not finish his six-year term after he was elected vice president in 2004.
During his term, he was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.
He returned to broadcasting after his vice presidential stint ended in 2010. He served as the anchor of ABS-CBN's primetime newscast "TV Patrol" and hosted a morning radio program. — Xave Gregorio with reports from Kristine Joy Patag and Gaea Katreena Cabico