The camp of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos said that it respects House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta's decision to drop out of the Senate race less than two weeks before the May 9 polls.
Marcoleta had been campaigning under the UniTeam ticket, which Marcos leads together with his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
“Although it is with sadness that we receive the news that former Deputy House Speaker Rodante Marcoleta is withdrawing from the senatorial race, we opt to follow that there must be a higher reason behind it," said Marcos spokesperson lawyer Vic Rodriguez in a statement late Wednesday night, April 27.
"We respect this move and express deep appreciation for his continuous support for the BBM-Sara tandem and the UniTeam, despite his decision to withdraw," Rodriguez said.
"At this point, we submit to serendipity, that everything happens from the point of view of destiny, believing that in the end, Rep. Marcoleta might be serving a different, yet a higher purpose," added the Marcos mouthpiece.
In terms of pre-election surveys, the SAGIP Party-list solon has been well outside the so-called "Magic 12" or the winners' circle.
Marcoleta, who is no.43 on the ballot, is known for his hardline stance against renewing the franchise of television and radio giant ABS-CBN, which according to him has violated the laws of the land.
In fact, he has made it part of his campaign speech during UniTeam sorties to brag about his standing up to a powerful and influential entity like ABS-CBN.