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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Health issue forces Willie Ong to drop out of Senate race; Bam Aquino wishes his 'friend' well

Health issue forces Willie Ong to drop out of Senate race; Bam Aquino wishes his 'friend' well

Published Feb 13, 2025 05:28 am

As cardiologist Willie Ong withdrew from the Senate race to focus on his health, his friend senatorial aspirant Bam Aquino wished him a full recovery and thanked him for his love for the country.

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Former senator Bam Aquino, his wife, Timi, and Dr. Willie Ong (Photo from Bam Aquino Facebook page)

Ong, who is battling sarcoma, shared the announcement to withdraw his candidacy on his social media accounts.

“I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections. So I can focus more on taking care of my health,” Ong said.

“I sincerely thank all the people who supported me and prayed for me. I will continue to support good governance and the candidates who espouse the same ideals as mine,” he went on.

In a Facebook post, Aquino lauded Ong and wife, Liza, for their advocacy of making health care accessible to all Filipinos.

“It is with deep respect that I acknowledge the difficult decision of Doc Willie Ong to withdraw his candidacy for the Senate so he can focus on his health recovery,” he wrote.

“Maraming salamat, Doc Willie, sa iyong malasakit at pagmamahal sa bayan (Thank you very much, Doc Willie, for your compassion and love for the country),” the former senator said.

He shared that him and his wife Timi consider the couple as friends “because you have shown us what a loving partnership is.”

“By supporting each other, you are able to serve and reach out to more Filipinos about your lifelong advocacy for accessible healthcare,” Aquino added.

The cancer-stricken cardiologist said he would still continue his advocacy to “help the poor Filipinos” through accessible health care in his private capacity.

Ong filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) through his wife in Oct. 2024 despite doctors finding a mass in his abdomen that measured 16 x 13 x 12 centimeters.

The mass was located behind his heart and in front of his spine.

This was supposed to be Ong’s third attempt for a national post—he ran for the Senate in 2019 and for vice president in 2022.

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