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Ballot 49:
Willie Ong
Cardiologist
Aksyon Demokratiko
Age: 61 (born Oct. 24, 1963)
Highest educational attainment: Master in Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila (2001-2002)
Endorsed by: 1SAMBAYAN, Heal PH Party-list
A cardiologist and social media personality, Willie Ong is giving the Senate another shot after an unsuccessful bid in 2019 to push for health reforms even while battling with cancer.
Field of Expertise
Issues and Controversies
During the 2022 presidential election, Ong was forced to skip a campaign in Mindanao after his political party, Aksyon Demokratiko, said the region already had a preferred candidate and did not want him to "lose face." He said he was hurt by the decision.
Ong clarified in May 2024 that he was not the Willie Ong, a suspected Chinese drug lord and owner of Empire 999 Realty Corporation, investigated for the seizure of some 530 kilos of shabu worth P3.6 million in September 2023.
Social media posts falsely claimed he is the biological father of businesswoman Cassandra Ong, linked to an illegal online gambling operator in Porac, Pampanga.
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Where this candidate stands on top 5 concerns of the Filipino voter
- Calls on PhilHealth to provide free angiogram and chemotherapy for cancer patients; angiogram, angioplasty, heart bypass, CT scan, MRI, and PET scans for all members
- Favors regulation of agricultural imports to support local farmers and fisherfolk
- Has pushed for more jobs and infrastructure development in the Visayas and Mindanao to balance the country’s overall economy
- Supports revision of the Constitution to allow foreigners to own or rent land as a means of boosting foreign direct investments
- Supports a rule preventing members of political dynasties to serve consecutive terms in elected government positions, saying the root cause of corruption are candidates who receive funding from wealthy benefactors
- Proposes to allow only two or three family members of a political dynasty to simultaneously serve in government positions
- Proposes measures to curb corruption, including the computerization of data from PhilHealth , Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs; full disclosure of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities of public officials; and the creation of expenditure roadmaps/line items for congressmen’s projects
- Suggests pursuing trade and military deals with both the U.S. and China, where the Philippines could benefit the most
- Says the criminal justice approach is not the best way to carry out the campaign against against drug addiction, a public health issue rooted in the lack of proper rehabilitation and prevention
- Favors arresting drug pushers, saying users are victims of depression who need intervention
- Calls for the provision of more antidepressants / medicines and intervention of psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers in fighting drug addiction
- Urges the public to secure stocks of potassium iodide and build fallout shelters since the Philippines is unprepared for a nuclear attack
Interesting Facts
- Was a candidate for vice president in the 2022 election as running mate of former mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso of Manila; placed fourth among nine candidates with 1.87 million votes.
- Official YouTube channel has nearly 10 million subscribers, while his Facebook page has 17 million followers.
- Diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma or malignant tumor in the abdomen last Aug. 29, 2024, Ong vows to pursue a limited physical election campaign and focus on social media instead; currently undergoing treatment in Singapore.
- Says he will seek a Senate seat with a campaign budget of P500,000 and will not ask for donations.