MANILA, Philippines— Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson’s name will remain on the official ballot even if he has announced his withdrawal from the Senate race, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.
“Kung sakali po matuloy ang withdrawal, di na po namin matatanggal name niya sa balota (we can no longer remove his name from the ballot),” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Monday in reaction to reports that Singson has decided to withdraw his Senate bid for health reasons.
Garcia said all votes cast for Singson would be declared as stray.
He urged Singson to personally file his withdrawal at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.
The Comelec started last Jan. 6 the printing of 73 million ballots for the May 12, 2025 midterm elections and the first parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
Garcia said the printing of ballots would take 77 days or until April 14.
Singson is among the 66 senatorial aspirants who were declared by the Comelec as legitimate candidates.
The former Ilocos Sur governor announced his withdrawal Sunday following a bout with pneumonia.
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