Aquino’s Senate comeback bid gets backing from Escudero, Ong

Senate President Francis Escudero (left) meets with Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino senatorial candidate and former Senator Bam Aquino in his office on Monday, March 31, 2025. —Photo from Chiz Escudero/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino senatorial candidate and former Senator Bam Aquino gained the support of Senate President Francis Escudero as well as doctor-vlogger and ex-senatorial candidate Willie Ong.

In a social media post on Tuesday afternoon, Escudero said Aquino visited his office on Monday to discuss alignments in their legislative agendas.

“Excited ako sa posibilidad na muling makatrabaho si Bam sa Senado upang isulong ang makabuluhang reporma at mga inisyatibo para sa ating bansa,” Escudero said.

(I am excited for the possibility of again working with Bam in the Senate to advance meaningful reform and initiatives for our country.)

Doctor-vlogger and ex-senatorial candidate Willie Ong (right) expresses his support for Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino senatorial candidate and former Senator Bam Aquino in a meeting in his office in Pasay City on Monday, March 31, 2025. —Photo from Team Bam Aquino

For his part, Ong said he supported the former senator’s comeback bid for his advocacy for free education.

READ: Bam Aquino vows higher budget for free college tuition

Aquino was among the proponents of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

The former senator has been anchoring his 2025 campaign on expanding free college education by allocating a higher budget for subsidies and guaranteeing jobs after graduation.

“Taos sa puso ko ang habambuhay na misyon ko na maging doktor para sa lahat ng Pilipino, at ganoon din si Senator Bam Aquino sa pagiging Senador para sa lahat ng Pilipino,” Ong said in a statement issued by Aquino’s camp on Monday.

(My lifelong mission to be a doctor for all Filipinos comes from the bottom of my heart, and Senator Bam Aquino will likewise be a senator for all Filipinos.)

Aquino got Ong’s backing when the former visited the doctor-vlogger in his Pasay City office also on Monday.

Ong dropped out of the senatorial race last February, citing health concerns.