Señeres withdraws; it's now a 5-way presidential race

CANDIDATE NO MORE. Party list Representative Roy Señeres in this file photo after he filed his candidacy last year. File photo by Czeasar Dancel/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Former ambassador and current party-list representative Roy Señeres backed out of the 2016 presidential election on Friday, February 5, citing health reasons.

His representative, lawyer Candy Rivas, went to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Friday afternoon to formalize it.

His withdrawal from the race reduces the number of presidential candidates to 5: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II, and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

In a statement, Señeres said he was advised by his doctor to avoid stress because of his long-standing diabetes. He added that he withdrew with the blessings of his family.

He said, however, that his withdrawal from the race "does not equate to the withdrawal from my advocacy, that is to fight for the rights and the welfare our of labor sector, particularly the overseas Filipino workers, their family members, and our local workers who are victimized by the abusive practice of contractualization."

He then hoped that the remaining presidentiables "will continue to heed this call to see to it that the law which prohibits contractualization, particularly Article 280 of the Labor Code, will be implemented once he or she has been sworn into office."

His statement continued, "I wish to thank my wonderful family, supporters, and volunteers for their loyalty and support which has fuelled my passion for service to our countrymen."

A former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and currently OFW party list representative, Señeres filed his certificate of candidacy for president in October 2015.

He vowed to push for an end to contractualization – the system of hiring temporary workers without making them regular employees – as this is "against the Constitution." Bishop Teodulo Malangen of Bulacan was registered as his running mate.

More than 100 presidential bets – a record high – filed their certificates of candidacy in October last year. The Commission on Elections only gave the go-signal to 6, including Señeres. – Rappler.com