Former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson is dropping out of the midterm Senate race, he announced on Sunday, January 12.
In a speech at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, live streamed on social media, he told supporters that he would withdraw his candidacy, citing a bout of pneumonia that resulted in his hospitalization.
“Mga kaibigan, mahalaga ng maayos ang kalusugan para magpatuloy ako sa pagtulong at magbigay ng saya sa inyong lahat,” Singson said. “Kaya matapos ang mahabang pag-iisip, ang desisyon ko po, hindi na po ako tutuloy sa aking kandidatura sa Senado.”
He also said that he needed time to recover. “Sa totoo lang, tumakas na lang ako sa ospital dahil ayaw nila akong palabasin. Bagamat nagamot nila ang pneumonia, kailangan ko raw ng mahabang panahon ng pahinga.”
Despite his withdrawal from the elections, the 83-year-old Singson said that he will continue providing electric vehicles to transport groups. “Kaya minabuti kong unahin ko muna ang aking pagpapalakas, upang mas lalo pa akong makatulong at makapaglingkod sa inyong lahat.”
On January 6, Singson told reporters that the LCS Group of Companies, which he owns, is planning to produce 500 e-jeepneys a month as part of its private sector initiative in Pasig City to modernize PUVs, in partnership with the South Korea-based e-mobility firm Electric Mobility ON (EMON) and Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH). Each unit costs P1.2 million, according to Singson.
When he filed his certificate of candidacy in October 2024, he promised to fund the modernization of public utility vehicles (PUVs). “Ang gagawin ko po, manalo’t matalo, ang ginagawa ko na ngayon: ang modernization ng mga electric vehicles,” he said.
On Monday, January 13, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that Singson’s name will remain on the ballot despite his withdrawal, since ballot printing started on January 6. Instead, votes he receives will be considered “stray,” according to Comelec Chairperson George Garcia.
