Manila: Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson has officially withdrawn his candidacy for senator in the upcoming May 2025 national and local elections. Singson, aged 83, personally submitted his Statement of Withdrawal to the Law Department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) located in Intramuros.

According to Philippines News Agency, health concerns were the primary reason for Singson’s decision to pull out of the senatorial race, following a recent hospitalization due to pneumonia. Comelec chairperson George Garcia confirmed that Singson’s name will be removed from the official ballots, which are scheduled to be reprinted next week. “Since we will go back to zero in printing the official ballots, we will be able to remove his name from the ballot,” Garcia stated in an interview.

Earlier this week, the poll body announced a suspension in the printing of the official ballots for the May elections after the Supreme Court issued temporary restraining orders on cases involving five aspirants. These orders prevent Comelec from executing its rulings on two aspirants deemed as nuisance candidates, disqualifying two senatorial candidates, and rejecting the certificate of candidacy from another contender.

As a result of these legal interventions, Comelec reported that 6 million ballots, initially printed for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections, local absentee and overseas voting, as well as test ballots, will be destroyed via shredding.