Bello yet to decide if he will join 2022 Senate race — DOLE exec
Amid reports on substitution for a Senate seat, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said there is no final decision yet whether Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III will join the 2022 elections as the deadline for candidate substitution neared.

"Secretary Bello has yet to decide whether or not to seek a seat in the Senate. He has until Monday to do so," DOLE-Information and Publication Service (IPS) Director Rolly Francia told reporters on Saturday, Nov. 13.
While waiting for Bello's decision, Francia said the labor chief will continue to implement the Department's livelihood programs for Filipino workers who have been affected by the pandemic.
"In the meantime, tuloy lang ang trabaho nya at pangunguna sa pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng flagship program ng DOLE na TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) para sa mga lubhang naapektuhan ng pandemiya (he will continue his work and lead in providing assistance to those who have been severely affected by the pandemic through DOLE's flagship program TUPAD)," he added.
The agency was sought for comment shortly after former DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque withdrew his certificate of candidacy for Senator for next year's polls.
Reports also surfaced that Roque named Bello as his substitute under the Lakas-CMD party.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is currently accepting withdrawals and substitutions of candidacies for the national positions until Monday, Nov. 15.