Former Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella is running for president in the May 2022 polls.
Abella filed his certificate of candidacy for president (COC) on Friday, Oct. 8 before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at Sofitel Tent in Pasay City as an independent candidate.
When asked why he is running as an independent candidate instead of joining the slate of the administration, he said: "It wasn't offered to me."
Abella also said that he has no political backers.
"All I know is that when I share this people high and low, they are quite open. Perhaps, they see me as a glimmer of hope," he said.
Abella served as the Presidential Spokesperson of President Duterte from 2016 to 2017.