Jamaine Punzalan

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)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><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/173915106962420250117-harapan-halalan-2025-JC-7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><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. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>– AGRI Party-list Wilbert Lee announced on Monday he is withdrawing from the 2025 Senate Race.</p><p>The lawmaker made the revelation in a press conference in Malate, Manila.</p><p>&quot;Sa pakikipag-usap ko po sa aking pamilya, sa campaign team at sa liderato ng AGRI Party-list, napagpasyahan ko po na mag-withdraw na sa pagtakbo sa Senador,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Isa po itong napakahirap na desisyon para sa akin, lalo pa&#x27;t naniniwala ako sa aking pinaglalaban at nais kong dalhin ito sa Senado,&quot; Lee said.</p><p>However, the lawmaker said after prayer, reflection and consultations, he believes this is the right decision to make.</p><p>&quot;Sa pag-iikot ko sa bansa, napagtanto ko na hindi pa talaga sapat ang makinarya na meron tayo ngayon para maabot ang lahat ng ating kababayan upang mapakilala at maipalam ang ating ipinaglalaban na adbokasiya,&quot; Lee said.</p><p>&quot;Naging malinaw po ito para sa akin na kailangan pa ng mas mahabang panahon para mapatibay ang pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa kapwa nating Pilipino at maging sapat ang kahandaan at makinarya para sa matagumpay na kampanya,&quot; he added.</p><p>The lawmaker thanked his family, campaign team, staff, friend, volunteers and supporters.</p><p>Lee clarified that his decision to pull out from the Senate race has nothing to do with health conditions.</p><p>&quot;Wala po. Okay po ako. Siguro meron lang po akong heartache ngayon,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lee said he will continue to fight for his advocacies of free medicine and healthcare for every Filipino in his personal capacity.</p><p>&quot;Hindi man ako tuloy sa pagtakbo sa Senado, patuloy ko pa ring isusulong ang aking mga adbokasiya para mapagaan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan para sa kalusugan at agrikultura,&quot; he shared.</p><p>&quot;Tuloy po ang laban sa AGRI Party-list. Ako lang po nag-withdraw sa pagiging Senador. Pagpapatuloy po nila ang adbokasiyang nasimulan natin,&quot; Lee added.</p><p>Based on the recent Pulse Asia survey (January 18-25, 2025) on senatorial preferences, Lee ranked 31st-63rd, with 25% of respondents “aware” of him, and 1% saying they will vote for him.</p><p>Lee is facing an ethics complaint in the House of Representatives filed by Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo and BHW Party List Representative Angelica Natasha Co in October 2024.</p><p>He also addressed concerns over his campaign spending, saying he used his own money and he is against corruption.</p><p>The lawmaker said he is not closing his doors on the possibility of running again in the 2028 national elections.</p><p>Lee was the first to file his certificate of candidacy for Senator last October 2024.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zpaAv-mvPCA" title="Wilbert Lee addresses House ethics complaint: &#x27;Wala sa intensyon natin na mam-bully&#x27; | Harapan 2025" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kqf22bJfpkg" title="Wilbert Lee on big ad spending: &#x27;I can proudly say na sariling pera &#x27;to&#x27; | Harapan 2025" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9pORJfNzi58" title="Wilbert Lee on AKAP: &#x27;Bakit kailangan idaan sa mga pulitiko?&#x27; | Harapan 2025" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) – AGRI Party-list Wilbert Lee announced on Monday he is withdrawing from the 2025 Senate Race.</p><p>The lawmaker made the revelation in a press conference in Malate, Manila.</p><p>&quot;Sa pakikipag-usap ko po sa aking pamilya, sa campaign team at sa liderato ng AGRI Party-list, napagpasyahan ko po na mag-withdraw na sa pagtakbo sa Senador,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Isa po itong napakahirap na desisyon para sa akin, lalo pa&#x27;t naniniwala ako sa aking pinaglalaban at nais kong dalhin ito sa Senado,&quot; Lee said.</p><p>However, the lawmaker said after prayer, reflection and consultations, he believes this is the right decision to make.</p><p>&quot;Sa pag-iikot ko sa bansa, napagtanto ko na hindi pa talaga sapat ang makinarya na meron tayo ngayon para maabot ang lahat ng ating kababayan upang mapakilala at maipalam ang ating ipinaglalaban na adbokasiya,&quot; Lee said.</p><p>&quot;Naging malinaw po ito para sa akin na kailangan pa ng mas mahabang panahon para mapatibay ang pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa kapwa nating Pilipino at maging sapat ang kahandaan at makinarya para sa matagumpay na kampanya,&quot; he added.</p><p>The lawmaker thanked his family, campaign team, staff, friend, volunteers and supporters.</p><p>Lee clarified that his decision to pull out from the Senate race has nothing to do with health conditions.</p><p>&quot;Wala po. Okay po ako. Siguro meron lang po akong heartache ngayon,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lee said he will continue to fight for his advocacies of free medicine and healthcare for every Filipino in his personal capacity.</p><p>&quot;Hindi man ako tuloy sa pagtakbo sa Senado, patuloy ko pa ring isusulong ang aking mga adbokasiya para mapagaan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan para sa kalusugan at agrikultura,&quot; he shared.</p><p>&quot;Tuloy po ang laban sa AGRI Party-list. Ako lang po nag-withdraw sa pagiging Senador. Pagpapatuloy po nila ang adbokasiyang nasimulan natin,&quot; Lee added.</p><p>Based on the recent Pulse Asia survey (January 18-25, 2025) on senatorial preferences, Lee ranked 31st-63rd, with 25% of respondents “aware” of him, and 1% saying they will vote for him.</p><p>Lee is facing an ethics complaint in the House of Representatives filed by Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo and BHW Party List Representative Angelica Natasha Co in October 2024.</p><p>He also addressed concerns over his campaign spending, saying he used his own money and he is against corruption.</p><p>The lawmaker said he is not closing his doors on the possibility of running again in the 2028 national elections.</p><p>Lee was the first to file his certificate of candidacy for Senator last October 2024.</p>

<p>AGRI Party-List Rep. Wilbert Lee announced Monday that he was withdrawing from the 2025 Senate race.</p>

AGRI Party-List Rep. Wilbert Lee announced Monday that he was withdrawing from the 2025 Senate race.

Halalan 2025: Wilbert Lee withdraws from Senate race

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Halalan 2025: Wilbert Lee withdraws from Senate race

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 10, 2025 09:31 AM PHT

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Updated February 10, 2025 05:11 PM PHT

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