LAOAG CITY, Philippines — Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc has withdrawn his certificate of candidacy and opted to run for vice governor to give way to his aunt.
Before the filing period of the COC closed on Tuesday afternoon, Manotoc and Vice Gov. Cecilia Araneta-Marcos arrived at the provincial election office in this city to make changes in their COCs, which they filed on Oct. 1.
With the switch, Araneta-Marcos will run for governor against independent candidate Arlene Butay.
Manotoc, son of Sen. Imee Marcos, will run unopposed for vice governor. He said the job of a governor takes a lot of his time and affects things that matter to him.
There were times he thought of quitting politics, but a part of him says otherwise, he said.
“I think this is the right time to compromise, to still be around, manage what we have started and sustain our projects,” Manotoc said.
Araneta-Marcos said she would work hard and count on the support of the Marcos family and the people around her.