Camille Naredo

Businessman Wilbert Lee answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Harapan 2025

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173715424818020250117-harapan-halalan-2025-JC-6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Businessman Wilbert Lee answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Businessman Wilbert Lee answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Senatorial aspirant and AGRI Party List Representative Wilbert Lee addressed concerns over his campaign spending during his appearance in ABS-CBN&#x27;s Harapan 2025 on Friday. </p><p>Based on Facebook data, Lee spent approximately P2.5 million on the platform from April 20 to July 18, 2024, making him one of the biggest advertisers in the run-up to the elections. In addition to digital ads, Lee&#x27;s campaign has also been widely seen on billboards. </p><p>Responding to questions about his funding sources, Lee said: &quot;I can proudly say na sariling pera ko… Ayoko ng corruption.&quot; </p><p>Lee owns hotels, town centers, and fast food chains all over the Philippines.</p><p>Asked why he wanted to run for Senate, Lee, a billionaire, said, &quot;To whom much is given, much is expected… Ang paniwala ko mas marami tayong magagawa at mas mapakikinggan tayo pag tayo po ay nasa Senado.&quot; </p><div><strong>ETHICS COMPLAINT</strong></div><p>In October 2024, Lee was slapped with an ethics complaint from Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo and BHW Party List Representative Angelica Natasha Co. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/14/quimbo-co-file-ethics-complaint-vs-lee-over-improper-conduct-1554">READ: AGRI Party List Rep Wilbert Lee faces ethics complaint over &#x27;acts of aggression&#x27;, &#x27;improper conduct&#x27;</a></div><p>The two said Lee &quot;furiously approached&quot; them when they were sponsoring the Department of Health&#x27;s budget last September 25 and pointed at them &quot;with malicious intent&quot; while threatening to cause trouble. </p><p>On that same day in September, Lee was also seen grabbing a microphone from Northern Samar First District Representative Paul Daza. </p><p>&quot;Wala po sa intensyon natin na mambully, manakot,&quot; Lee said on Friday. &quot;Ginagalang ko po ang bawat miyembro ng Kongreso lalo yung buong institution.&quot; </p><p>&quot;Pag nagsalita ako talagang even dun sa interpellation makikita mo it&#x27;s my way of expressing. Ganun yung ano ko, kamay. Di naman yun duro,&quot; he said. </p><p>Lee clarified that he became visibly frustrated due to his insistence on securing a commitment letter from the Department of Health (DOH). He explained that back in September 2023, he was the first to expose the truth about PhilHealth&#x27;s financial situation. </p><p>At the time, it was believed that PhilHealth was in financial trouble, but Lee uncovered that the organization had a massive surplus of more than half a trillion pesos.</p><p>&quot;Dinefer ko yung budget ng DOH because 2023 pa September sinimulan ko yung paglalaban na &#x27;to. So, nung sinabi natin tayo unang nag expose nun because prior to this, akala ng lahat lugi ang Philhealth,&quot; he explained. </p><p>&quot;So ngayong budget hearing ngayong taon ang ginawa natin dito, hindi na ko pumayag na pangako [lang]. Talagang dinefer ko na hanggang hindi niyo ko bigyan ng commitment letter,&quot; he said. </p><p>Lee emphasized that his push for the commitment letter was not just a political move but a matter of accountability, saying the letter was a crucial tool to ensure long-term benefits for Filipinos needing critical healthcare.</p><p>He further explained that he had no other choice but to demand this commitment, highlighting his deep concern over the government&#x27;s responsiveness to the needs of the people.</p><p>Lee also explained that he was only passionate about pushing for health reforms. </p><p>&quot;Andami pinipili na nasa bahay, nakaratay, ayaw magpadala sa opsital, dahil natatakot, dahil pag napaospital yung konting ipon sa isang iglap, ubos,&quot; Lee said. </p><p>He shared the staggering volume of requests his team receives daily, underscoring the urgent demand for support. </p><p>&quot;Yung messenger namin, would you believe everyday, 5,000 to 7,000 messages ang natatanggap namin all asking for medical assistance,&quot; Lee revealed. </p><p>&quot;The advocacy was really to help yung mga may sakit so para mas malaman nila na meron silang pwedeng puntahan pwede silang humingi,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W_jOX-Cd5Ko?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Senatorial aspirant and AGRI Party List Representative Wilbert Lee addressed concerns over his campaign spending during his appearance in ABS-CBN's Harapan 2025 on Friday. </p>

Senatorial aspirant and AGRI Party List Representative Wilbert Lee addressed concerns over his campaign spending during his appearance in ABS-CBN's Harapan 2025 on Friday.

Harapan 2025: Wilbert Lee explains high ad spending, ethics complaint

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Harapan 2025: Wilbert Lee explains high ad spending, ethics complaint

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 18, 2025 07:27 AM PHT

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