Erap partymate withdraws from presidential race

An ally of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (photo) has withdrawn from the presidential race, his party the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino or PMP has announced. Romel Mendoza was believed to stand in for Estrada in the presidential race while the mayor pondered on which position to run for in the May elections. INQUIRER FILE

Romel Mendoza of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) has backed out in the 2016 presidential race.

The announcement was made in a press conference on Monday.

Mendoza, 39, who served as the secretary general of the PMP-allied Kalipunan ng Masang Pilipino, was reportedly fielded to be the proxy of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada should the latter decide to run for president.

READ: Estrada, PMP no longer part of UNA, son JV clarifies | LOOK: Poe, Duterte on Comelec’s initial list of presidential bets

However, the rumors were quelled after Estrada filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection as the mayor of the nation’s capital.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) even junked the petition filed by the poll body’s law department declaring Mendoza as a nuisance candidate as he was duly nominated by PMP president Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

In his COC, Mendoza said that he was born in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, and worked as an assistant project officer.

In the Comelec’s initial list released last January 21, it indicated that there were eight hopefuls vying for the country’s top post.

The eight presidential aspirants included: Mendoza, Vice President Jejomar Binay of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA); Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago of People’s Reform Party (PRP); Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban); Senator Grace Poe; Mar Roxas of Liberal Party; OFW Party-list Representative Roy Señeres; and Dante Valencia.

However, on January 27, the list was further whittled down as the Comelec en banc declared Valencia as a nuisance candidate.

With two hopefuls out, only six hopefuls remain.

The official campaign period for the May elections will kick off on February 9. AJH/ With a report from Erwin Aguilon, Radyo Inquirer