Piñol denies comeback bid in North Cotabato

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Former North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Piñol on Monday denied he was planning a political comeback in his province.

Speculations about Piñol’s return to North Cotabato politics heightened when his secretary, Joyce Tupas, filed her certificate of candidacy for vice governor, against reelectionist Gregorio Ipong of the Liberal Party.

Sources said Piñol could eventually replace Tupas under the rule on substitution.

“I am declaring that I am not running anymore,” Piñol told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He said he would make a Facebook post where he “will declare that I am retiring from politics.”

“But I will continue my advocacy in agriculture, rural development and federalism,” Piñol added.

He said he would do farming aside from producing Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao’s “Blow by Blow” program for TV5.  SFM