Cardiologist Willie Ong has officially withdrawn from the Senate race to prioritize his health due to his battle with sarcoma.
He announced this decision on his social media platforms, stating, “I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections to focus more on taking care of my health.”
Ong expressed gratitude to his supporters and reaffirmed his commitment to good governance.
Senatorial aspirant Bam Aquino extended his well wishes to Ong and acknowledged the significant decision to withdraw for health recovery.
In a Facebook post, Aquino praised Ong and his wife, Liza, for their dedication to making healthcare accessible to all Filipinos.
He expressed deep respect for their partnership and noted, “Maraming salamat, Doc Willie, sa iyong malasakit at pagmamahal sa bayan.” Despite stepping back from the race,
Ong emphasized his intention to continue advocating for accessible healthcare to support underprivileged Filipinos in a private capacity.
His candidacy was filed through his wife in October 2024, although a 16 x 13 x 12 centimeter mass was discovered in his abdomen, located behind his heart and in front of his spine.
This would have marked Ong’s third attempt at a national position after previous runs for the Senate in 2019 and vice presidency in 2022.
