Willie Ong to mount ‘limited physical campaign’ for senator amid cancer battle — counsel

Metro Manila, Philippines — Stricken with cancer, a physician who became popular for giving medical advice on social media plans to return from overseas treatment to mount a senatorial campaign by December, his spokesperson said.

Dr. Willie Ong, currently under treatment in Singapore for sarcoma cancer, filed his certificate of candidacy at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Thursday, Oct. 3, through his wife, Dr. Liza Ong.

Gilberto Lauengco, legal counsel of the doctor vlogger, said Ong will be able to go back to the country by end-November.

“He plans to go back to do a, of course, limited physical campaign by December-January and by February he will go to areas which we feel he should be physically present,” counsel said, adding Ong would still maximize social media platforms as “his core constituency is his online followers.”

Lauengco said Ong will mount a “faith-based campaign,” especially with his health condition and amid pre-election polls showing he is outside the so-called “Magic 12.”

The nation will vote for 12 senators in May 2025.

Ong ran for vice president in 2022 but lost. He was the running mate of former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso.