DOLE’s Bello opts to not run for senator in 2022

FILE PHOTO: Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./Presidential Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has decided not to run for senator in 2022, as neither he nor his representative was a no show at the Commission on Elections on the last day of filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) through substitution on Monday.

Bello said he opted to stay as chief of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to focus on helping displaced workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I find it urgent to address the needs of our displaced workers so I’m no longer participating in the polls,” he said.

It can be recalled that Bello said he would only run for senator if President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, runs for president in next year’s polls.

On November 13, former labor chief Marianito Roque withdrew his candidacy to make way for Bello. But Duterte-Carpio, on the same day, did not file her candidacy for president as she chose to instead run for vice president under Lakas-CMD.

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