PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s withdrawal from the Senate race earned both support and criticism from lawmakers.

Senators Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao said he respects the President’s decision to back out of the senatorial race.

“Nirerespeto natin ang desisyon niya. Ang bawat isa may desisyon,” Pacquiao said during an aid-giving activity at the Mati Cultural Center.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson wished Duterte well.

“President Duterte and Sen Bong Go have chosen peace as their path. Let’s give it to them and wish them well,” he said.

Staunch Duterte ally Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go asked for understanding on the President’s choice.

“Mas lalo akong nalulungkot gaya ng iba nating kapwa Pilipino. Bagama’t marami pang puwedeng gawin si Pangulong Duterte para sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa, respetuhin na natin ang kanyang desisyon na mag-retire pagkatapos ng kanyang termino bilang Pangulo. Nagserbisyo na po siya nang husto sa bayan at marami na siyang nabago na nagpaganda ng buhay ng taumbayan. Siguradong hindi iyan makakalimutan ng mga Pilipino,” Go said.

Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares, however, criticized the President’s move.

“President Duterte’s Senate run was pure posturing. It was his way of staying relevant and a desperate attempt to remain in power to protect himself from the International Criminal Court and other looming cases. He is now a lameduck president as his super majority coalition disintegrates, with his political allies abandoning him for the new presidential bets,” he said.

Colmenares advised the President to be prepared for his cases.

“Ang payo ko sa kanya, paghandaan na lang niya ang kanyang kaso sa ICC,” he added.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is running for vice president, supported her father, saying it was his personal decision and asked for people to respect it.

Acting Palace Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said that Duterte wants to spend time with his family after four decades of public service.