Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is not running in his country’s senate elections. The politician has withdrawn as a candidate, the election commission reports.
However, he does not say why Duterte is not participating.
Duterte will not be able to run for re-election as president next year, and there is much speculation about his political future. The politician is internationally known as a controversial figure because of his uncompromising approach to drug crime, which has cost the lives of thousands of people.
Police allegedly shot suspects without trial. The International Criminal Court in The Hague is investigating this.
Duterte, 76, could have secured another top position by participating in the 2022 senate elections. Other members of his family are also politically active. Daughter Sara wants to be vice president, and son Sebastian runs for mayor.
