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Mayen Jaymalin - The Philippine Star
February 14, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Doctor-vlogger Willy Ong is backing out of the May 2025 senatorial race to focus on his cancer treatment.
“I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections so I can focus on taking care of my health,” Ong said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He added, “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.”
Ong stressed that his “advocacy to help the poor Filipinos continues even in my private capacity.”
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said they have yet to receive the statement of withdrawal, adding that Ong need not personally submit the statement as long as he has a medical certification from his doctor.
It was in September last year when Ong revealed that he is undergoing treatment for “sarcoma cancer” in his stomach. His doctors detected a mass measuring 16 centimeters “deeply hidden” behind his heart, in front of his spine.
He was already undergoing treatment when he filed the certificate of candidacy for senator last October. His partymate in Agri party-list, Rep. Wilbert Lee previously withdrew from the senatorial race.
Garcia said even if Ong officially withdraws from the senatorial elections his name would remain on the ballot.
All votes in favor of Ong and other bets who withdrew their candidacies during the printing of ballots shall be considered stray, he added.
Independent health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon expressed support to Ong’s decision.
“I think it’s a very good decision. Please prioritize your health and focus on your family. You can still continue your advocacy to help if you’re healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” Leachon said in a text message to Ong.
Negative campaigning?
Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, the senatorial candidates of President Marcos yesterday defended his disparaging remarks against former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate was asked about the President’s speech during the kick-off rally on Tuesday in Laoag City, where Marcos took a swipe at Duterte’s bloody war on drugs which killed thousands of mostly defenseless drug suspects, the overpriced pandemic supply contracts, his pivot to China to court investments, and the proliferation of the now outlawed Philippine offshore gaming operations which are linked to organized crime.
Former senate president Tito Sotto said it was the President’s opinion, one that is separate from their strategy to steer clear of negative campaigning.
“The President is not a candidate, so it does not have anything to do with us… The President was merely stating facts, and that is as far as his perspective is concerned. It is not a personal attack if it is based on facts,” Sotto said in a press conference before their Visayas kick-off rally at Vera Park.
Sotto cited the Senate’s investigation on the overpriced Pharmally contracts that hounded the pandemic response of the Duterte administration.
Former senator Ping Lacson said the President was passionate in his speech because of a threat to his life.
“I’d like to stretch my imagination even further. The President has access to all kinds of information. I’d like to think the passion in his speech stems from a serious security threat – not only to his administration, but to his own life,” Lacson said.
“That is an extreme and speculative view. But sometimes, when we are driven by emotions, we express it in a subliminal manner,” he added.
Former interior secretary Benhur Abalos saw no negative campaigning in Marcos’ speech despite it being an attack on Duterte, the leader of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan senatorial slate.
“Let’s look at it in its whole context. He started out laying down our track records. None of us are pro-China. We are pro-sovereignty. Nothing wrong with saying that. It is not negative campaigning,” Abalos said.
Party-list congressman now senator candidate Erwin Tulfo said the slate will focus on their track records instead of attacking their opponents, adding that the President is free to express his opinions.
The other candidates, Francis Tolentino, Camille Villar and Abby Binay were present in the press briefing but did not state their positions about the issue.
Sen. Imee Marcos took a swipe at her cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying the presidency is God-sent.
“It is something that couldn’t be forced. Yon lang ang payo ko sa mga ambisyoso (That’s my advise to the ambitious ones),” she said.
Marcos, in a press conference on Feb. 12, was asked about her relationship with Romualdez amid the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“I think there’s basic courtesy when I see him in public during bill signing and public occasions. But maybe he is irritated with me because I did not agree with the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution,” she said.
Marcos claimed her opposition to the budget and other issues might have also contributed to their current relationship, as they are no longer on speaking terms.
She said she has a deep relationship with the Dutertes, noting that with four presidents in over 20 years it was only former president Duterte who was courageous enough to allow the burial of her father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Meanwhile, Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said voters should consider a candidate’s stand on the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela, reacting to the statement of Senate aspirant Rodante Marcoleta that “there is no such thing as West Philippine Sea,” said “it is the right time for us voters to become really wise, to consider if those elected are supporting our fight in the West Philippine Sea.”
He described the statement as “very unimaginable.” – Rhodina Villanueva, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Jennifer Rendon, Ghio Ong
