Doctor-vlogger Willie Ong withdraws Senate 2025 bid
Dr. Willie Ong holds his Certificate of Candidacy. (File photo from his Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Cancer-stricken Dr. Willie Ong is withdrawing his senatorial bid for the 2025 midterm elections.
Ong made this pronouncement on his Facebook page on Thursday morning.
“I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections so I can focus more on taking care of my health,” the post read.
Ong added that he “will continue to support good governance and the candidates who espouse the same ideal as mine.”
The doctor, who is battling sarcoma cancer, bared his political plan in September 2024 to run for the Senate.
His Certificate of Candidacy was filed through his wife, Liza.
READ: Doc Willie Ong bares 2025 Senate run despite cancer diagnosis
Meanwhile, Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday that the poll body has not received the doctor’s affidavit of withdrawal.
He also said the withdrawal can be filed by a representative.
He noted that a candidate who cannot physically be present for this task can just get an authorization from a medical doctor.
Garcia added that the names of the aspirants who withdrew their candidacies after the Comelec had resumed its printing will remain in the ballots.
He reiterated that the withdrawal will not affect the ballot printing, emphasizing that the poll body will go on since it cannot “compromise” the 27 million already printed ballots.
READ: Lee’s withdrawal from Senate race won’t affect ballot printing – Comelec
“Therefore, lahat po ng mga boto, doon po sakali sa mga nakapag-withdraw na… lahat po ng mga boto na ‘yan ay stray na,” Garcia said in an ambush interview.
Former Governor Chavit Singson, Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee and social media personality Norman Mangusin or Francis Leo Marcos also previously backed out from the Senate race.
The doctor, who is battling sarcoma cancer, bared his plans in September 2024 to run for the Senate.
His Certificate of Candidacy was filed through his wife, Liza.
