Willie Ong withdraws from Senate race due to health reasons

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'I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections. So I can focus more on taking care of my health,' says Dr. Willie Ong, who recently announced he is cancer-free

MANILA, Philippines – Dr. Willie Ong, who recently declared himself cancer-free, has withdrawn from the 2025 senatorial race due to health reasons.

“I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections. So I can focus more on taking care of my health,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday, February 13.

“I sincerely thank all the people who supported me and prayed for me. I will continue to support good governance and the candidates who espouse the same ideals as mine,” he said.

Ong promised that his “advocacy to help the poor Filipinos continues” even in his private capacity.

Last September 2024, Ong disclosed that he was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare cancer affecting the bones and soft tissue. He said that the tumor, hidden behind his heart and in front of his spine, measures 16x13x12 centimeters — roughly the size of a football.

On December 2, 2024, he announced that he was cancer-free.

While receiving treatment in Singapore, his wife, Dr. Lisa Ong, filed his certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections on Thursday, October 3.

Ong first dipped his toes in politics in 2019 as a senatorial candidate. He garnered 7,495,895 votes, finishing in 18th place.

In the 2022 elections, he ran for vice president alongside Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Isko Moreno, landing fourth place with 8,251,267 votes, or 3.59%.

Aside from Ong, congressman Wilbert Lee and former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson withdrew their Senate bid. – Rappler.com