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Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte attends the plenary session of the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Bangkok Image Credit: AFP

Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew his candidacy for a Senate seat in the 2022 elections, Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez said on Twitter.

Duterte went to the election body's office in Manila on Tuesday to formalise his withdrawal from the senatorial race, which was earlier reported by radio DZRH. His close aide, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, also formally dropped his bid for the presidency earlier in the day.