MANILA – Senatorial candidate Doc Willie Ong has formally withdrawn from the 2025 midterm elections, filing his withdrawal through his representatives on Friday.
Ong, who is battling cancer, had previously announced his decision to step back from the Senate race to prioritize his health.
“Doc Willie is withdrawing because he still has some treatments left. He doesn’t want to shortchange the public, so he decided to step aside for now,” his wife, Dra. Liza Ong, explained.
HEALTH CONCERNS BEHIND WITHDRAWAL
Dra. Ong shared that Doc Willie initially believed he would complete his treatment before the official 100-day campaign period began.
However, since the campaign season had already started while his medical sessions were still ongoing, he ultimately decided to withdraw after careful consideration.
“Our schedule involves spending 10 days in Manila when we have no treatments and another 10 days in Singapore. This way, we ensure that we can still reach out to the people properly,” she added.
Despite his withdrawal, Dra. Ong provided positive health updates, revealing that Doc Willie had completed chemotherapy and was now undergoing immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
“From the last PET scan, his sarcoma has reduced from 100% to just 10-15%. We’ll have another scan in two weeks, and we’re hoping for a full recovery,” she shared.
She also expressed gratitude to supporters who prayed for his healing.
“If not for everyone’s prayers, Doc Willie wouldn’t have recovered this much. We truly witnessed the power of prayer—it’s a miracle,” she said.
COMELEC ACKNOWLEDGES WITHDRAWAL
At the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila, Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. received Dra. Ong during the filing of the withdrawal.
Maceda, a longtime acquaintance of Doc Willie since their preparatory school days, commended Ong’s respect for the electoral process and the Filipino people.
“This is a testament to his respect for the electoral process, the Senate position, and the Filipino people. On behalf of Comelec, we send our prayers for his recovery,” Maceda stated.
However, he clarified that Doc Willie’s name would still appear on the official ballot, as withdrawals made at this stage do not affect printed election materials.
Maceda also reminded candidates, including those who have withdrawn, to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) as part of election regulations.
“We still need to track donations and expenditures to ensure compliance with limits. Those who fail to submit their SOCE may face election offenses and possible disqualification if violated twice consecutively,” he warned.