
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's top choice for a successor on Tuesday dropped out of the race for the May 2022 presidential election.
Senator Christopher Go announced his withdrawal so as "not to further put on a tight spot" the president, whom he said he "loves more than as a father".
Go said he and Duterte are ready to support another candidate who will "genuinely serve, continue and protect the Duterte legacy".
Duterte himself is running for the Senate as presidents are constitutionally limited to single six-year terms. His daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, will run for vice president on a ticket with presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.