The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has already received the Statement of Withdrawal of Senatorial aspirant and broadcaster Noli De Castro for the May 2022 polls.

"The Commission on Elections confirms its receipt on Oct. 13, 2021 of the Statement of Withdrawal of Senatorial aspirant Manuel L. De Castro, Jr. for the 2022 National and Local Elections," the poll body said in a statement.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said aspirants may withdraw their candidacy at any time before election day.
He added that all Statements of Withdrawal for national positions received by the Law Department must comply with Comelec rules and regulations, and are still for submission to the Commission En Banc for resolution.
Based on Section 39 of Comelec Resolution No. 10717, any aspirant may personally file a sworn Statement of Withdrawal with the office where the certificate of candidacy (COC) is filed.
However, Minute Resolution No. 21-2972 allows a duly authorized representative to file the sworn Statement of Withdrawal if any of the following conditions applies to the withdrawing aspirant: In an area under a granular lockdown or identified "critical zone" by the LGU; was tested positive for COVID-19; or was identified as a close contact with any person who was tested positive for COVID-19 and on quarantine or isolation.
Aside from the sworn Statement of Withdrawal, the Comelec said, the following must be complied with: submission of a sworn Authority to File Statement of Withdrawal, submission a valid government ID with photograph and signature, online verification of the Statement of Withdrawal, to be scheduled on the same day.
De Castro personally filed his COC for senator as well as his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) as a nominee of Aksyon Demokratiko before the Comelec Law Department on Oct. 8, 2021.