Vice Presidential aspirant Willie Ong delivers his speech during a political rally at the Centro Mercato in Tarlac City on March 8, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Senatorial candidate Doc Willie Ong formally filed his withdrawal from the 2025 midterm polls Friday through his representatives.

Ong, who is battling cancer, earlier said he was backing out of the Senate race to focus on his health.  

“Kaya po nagwi-withdraw si Doc Willie, kasi may ilan pa po kaming mga sessions so gusto niya kasi hindi ma-short change ang sambayanan, so sabi niya sige magwi-withdraw muna ako kasi may few treatments pa,” Dra. Ong said.

According to Dra. Ong, Doc Willie can no longer do the campaigning because of his medical condition. 

“Una kasi kaya niya aabot yung treatment namin bago magsimula yung 100 days ng kampanya, pero nagsimula na po eh hindi pa pala kami tapos so napag-isipan niya, matagal din niyang pinag-isipan na magwi-withdraw siya,” Dra. Ong explained.

“Ang schedule kasi namin, 10 days here in Manila ‘pag wala kaming treatment and 10 days in Singapore para naman po hindi lugi yung tao na hindi kami nakakaikot,” Dra. Ong added.

She said Doc Willie’s condition improved after completing his chemotherapy.

“May good news po ako sa inyo, tapos na po ng chemotherapy si Doc, immuno therapy na lang tayo, tsaka targeted therapy. Yung dati pong 100 percent na sarcoma niya, from our last PET scan, 10 to 15 percent na lang yung natitira and magpe-pet scan po kami….2 weeks again so hopefully mag-zero na po yun,” Dra. Ong told the media.

She also thanked all those who prayed for Doc Willie’s speedy recovery.

“Sa mga supporters, kundi dahil sa prayers nyo hindi gagaling si Doc Willie eh. Don ko nakita ang powerful pala ng dasal kasi considered miracle na po yung nakuha namin,” Dra. Ong said.

Dra. Ong was greeted by Comelec commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.

Maceda said Doc Willie was his classmate since their preparatory school days.

He acknowledged the gesture of Dra. Ong as a sign of respect to the country’s electoral process. 

“It is a manifestation of his respect to the electoral process, his respect for the position and most of all, his respect to the Filipino people. So we from the Comelec send our wishes and prayers for his speedy recovery,” Maceda said.

Like other senatorial candidates who withdrew their candidacy, Maceda said Doc Willie’s name would remain in the official ballot for the May polls.

“Yes his name will remain in the ballot, in the case of Dr. Ong, if through a special power, Dr. Liza is here then we are going to accept their withdrawal because nobody is compelled to run up to the last day you can still withdraw,” according to Maceda.

Maceda said candidates who withdrew from the race still had to file their Statement of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCE).

“Kailangan pa rin naming malaman yun. Because they are engaged with the public, because if there are donations made and they’re expenditures done just to see if they have stayed within the limits or if those who have contributed to them have themselves filed in their own returns their donations,” he explained.

Failure to file SOCE is an election offense, the official added.

“May election offense yan and may possible disqualification from running or from suffrage if you do it 2 consecutive times,” Maceda said. 

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