By Celeste Tamayo
MANILA — Content creator and popular medical adviser, Dr. Willie Ong, has announced that he is withdrawing from his senatorial bid to focus on his health.
“I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections so I can focus more on taking care of my health,” Ong said in a post.
Ong previously disclosed that he is battling sarcoma cancer.
The health advocate expressed his gratitude to his supporters and those who prayed for him, adding that he will continue to help Filipinos.
“I sincerely thank all the people who supported and prayed for me. I will continue to support good governance and the candidates who share the same ideals,” he said.
“Our advocacy to help the poor continues, even in my private capacity,” Ong added.
When filing his Certificate of Candidacy, Ong’s wife, Liza, submitted the documents on his behalf while he was in Singapore receiving treatment for sarcoma cancer.
ia/mnm
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Barely 10 months before the 2025 midterm elections, Dr. Willie Ong sprang a surprise as he now leads in the latest Publicus senatorial survey followed closely by ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, former Senator Ping Lacson, and ex-Senate President Tito Sotto.
Based on the latest survey conducted by the political consultancy firm Publicus Asia from June 15 to 19, Ong topped as the respondents’ top senatorial bet with a preference rating of 39%.
Second was Erwin Tulfo with 33%.
Rounding up the list were Duterte and Lacson, who both had a voter preference rating of 32%, and Sotto with 29%.
Sen. Bong Go and former Manila mayor Isko Moreno also had a preference rating of 29%, while presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos had 26%.
Former vice president Leni Robredo and former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan both got a 25% preference rating, followed by Senator Pia Cayetano and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who shared the same rating of 23%.
Robredo, however, has announced that she would like to run for mayor in Naga City, Camarines Sur in 2025.
(el Amigo/mnm)