AGRI Party-list and senatorial aspirant Wilbert T. Lee has withdrawn from the Senate race, citing that he does not have enough political machinery for a successful national campaign.
Wilbert Lee withdraws from Senate race; here's why
At a glance
AGRI Party-list and senatorial aspirant Wilbert T. Lee has withdrawn from the Senate race, citing that he does not have enough political machinery for a successful national campaign.
Lee instead vowed to focus on helping his party-list win its re-election bid to ensure the continuity of its advocacy.
"Sa pag-iikot ko po sa ating bansa, napagtanto ko na hindi sapat ang makinarya na mayroon po tayo ngayon para maabot ang lahat ng ating mga kababayan upang mapakilala at maipaalam ang aking mga ipinaglalabang adbokasiya (After going around the country, I realized that the machinery that I have right now is not enough to reach all my fellow countrymen to introduce myself to them and my advocacies)," he said in a press conference on Monday, Feb. 10.
"Naging malinaw sa akin na kailangan pa ng mas mahabang panahon para mapatibay ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga kapwa natin Pilipino at maging sapat ang kahandaan at makinarya para sa matagumpay na kampanya (It became clear to me that I need a longer period of time to strengthen my connection with them and have enough preparation and machinery to have a successful campaign)," he added.
Meanwhile, Lee said that AGRI Party-list will push through with its reelection bid with the start of the national campaign period Tuesday, Feb. 11.
He said that he will spend his remaining days in the Congress pushing for more support for the agriculture industry and for the protection of farmers, fishers and local food producers that we consider "food security soldiers" to give them affordable food.
Lee thanked his family, campaign team, supporters, and volunteers who fought alongside him in pursuing causes for the Filipino people.
A staunch health advocate, Lee was the first to expose in September 2023 PhilHealth's enormous available funds amounting to more than P500 billion, aside from the more than P100 billion government subsidy every year.
He previously successfully pushed for a 30 percent increase in PhilHealth benefits, which was implemented last February 2024.
His consistent calls for better healthcare benefits also paved the way for another 50 percent increase in PhilHealth benefits which started in 2025—free dialysis, free eye check-up and prescription glasses for ages 0-15, free dental care, expanded coverage for breast cancer treatment, new benefit package for kidney transplant and heart ailments, and outpatient emergency care services, among others.
AGRI Party-list under Lee championed legislative measures to protect the livelihood of farmers, fisherfolk and local food producers, to provide long-term solutions to rising prices of food, and achieve food security.
Among Lee's principally-authored legislations that passed into law are Republic Act (RA) No. 11953 or the “New Agrarian Emancipation Act”, RA 11985 or the “Philippine Salt Industry Development Act”, and RA No.12022 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act”.
He is also now pushing for the passage of the "Cheaper Rice Act", "Post-harvest Facilities Act", "Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal Act" and "Fishing Shelters and Ports Act".