Willie Ong drops bid; Quiboloy back in Pasig jail
Cardiologist and online health advocate Willie Ong on Thursday announced that he would withdraw his candidacy for the Senate to focus on his health.
On the other hand, another senatorial candidate, jailed preacher Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing rape and qualified human trafficking charges, returned to the Pasig City Jail on Wednesday night after almost a month in hospital due to pneumonia.
Ong first revealed that he was diagnosed with a sarcoma, a malignant tumor that affects the bone and soft tissue, in September last year.
He had said the tumor was hidden behind his heart and in front of his spine and was roughly the size of a football.
“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 said. “Our advocacy to help the poor Filipinos continues even in my private capacity.”
The most recent Pulse Asia survey showed Ong just within the so-called Magic 12 senatorial candidates, with 24.6 percent of Filipinos saying they would vote for him. He is followed by returning senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan with 22.2 percent.
Quiboloy, meantime, was returned to jail from the Pasig City General Hospital at 9:50 p.m. after receiving medical clearance for his pneumonia and hypertension stage 2.
Breathing difficulty
Jail Supt. Jayrex Bustinera, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesperson, said Quiboloy was first brought to the Rizal Medical Center (RMC) from the Pasig City Jail male dormitory after complaining difficulty of breathing on Jan. 18.
He was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia at the RMC and was transferred to the The Medical City (TMC) in Ortigas for further treatment on the same day, according to Bustinera.
On Jan. 23, the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 159 ordered his transfer from TMC to Pasig City General Hospital (PCGH) where he was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia (moderate risk) and hypertension stage 2.
“While confined at PCGH, the court granted Quiboloy permission on Feb. 7, 2025, to record a video for his senatorial campaign purposes,” Bustinera said.
“After receiving medical clearance, Quiboloy was discharged from hospital and transferred back to BJMP Pasig City Jail on February 12, at 9:50 p.m.,” he added.
Denied requests
Last November, Quiboloy was also brought to the Philippine Heart Center and Philippine Children’s Hospital where he underwent medical tests after he complained of an “irregular heartbeat.”
Before being transferred to the Pasig City Jail, he was detained at the custodial center of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
He was arrested on Sept. 8 after being holed up for two weeks in the sprawling compound of his Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect.
The pastor has a standing warrant of arrest in the United States after he was indicted in 2021 by a federal grand jury in California for various sex trafficking charges and bulk cash smuggling.
Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon last year asked the court to have his client placed under house arrest or transferred to the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines citing security and health concerns, but these were denied.
