Poll chief: Marcoleta not withdrawing from 2025 Senate race

Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta shows his certificate of candidacy for senator in this file photo taken in October 2024. INQUIRER.net / John Eric Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta is not withdrawing from the senatorial race in the upcoming 2025 polls, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia.

Garcia made the clarification on Tuesday following manipulated videos circulating in social media claiming that Marcoleta withdrew his candidacy.

“I confirm publicly that it is wrong, false, misinformation and fake news,” Garcia said of the news of Marcoleta’s disqualification in a press conference in Palacio del Gobernador.

“None of the 66 senatorial candidates on the ballots withdrew their candidacy,” Garcia added, partly in Filipino.

Garcia noted that the fake videos used a footage back in 2022 when he was serving as one of the six Comelec commissioners.

It can be recalled that Marcoleta ran for senator in 2022, but withdrew his certificate of candidacy (COC) then returned to the House of Representatives as a substitute nominee for Sagip party-list.

Marcoleta, however, said that he is now “fully ready” for the Senate when he filed his COC in Oct. 8 last year.