News Details

AGRI party-list rep withdraws senatorial bid

NPO

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February 11, 2025

PNA

\MANILA – AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee announced on Monday that he is withdrawing his senatorial bid, citing the lack of machinery to secure a successful campaign. 

In a press conference in Manila, Lee said he would instead focus on the party’s reelection bid to ensure continuity of its agriculture and food security advocacies.

“In my visits around the country, I realized that I don’t have the machinery at this time to reach all our countrymen to introduce myself and my advocacies. It became clear to me that I need more time to boost my interactions with fellow Filipinos and mount a successful campaign,” Lee said in Filipino.

Lee vowed to champion farmers, fisherfolk, and local food producers, whom he calls "food security soldiers" to achieve affordable food for all.  

Under his leadership, AGRI Party-list spearheaded key measures laws, including the New Agrarian Emancipation Act or (RA 11953) and the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act (RA11985). 

He continues to push for the passage of the “Cheaper Rice Act,” “Post-harvest Facilities Act,” Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal Act” and “Fishing Shelters and Ports Act”.

 On Monday, Lee filed his Statement of Withdrawal at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila. 

"For the past days, we had serious discernment and this decision is the result of that discernment. I realized that we really lack the time and machinery to be able to reach the people and share our advocacy," Lee said in an interview after formalizing his withdrawal from the Senate race.

In a separate interview, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Lee’s name is included in the official ballots but the votes he will get in the May polls will not be counted. 

"Votes for him will be deemed as stray votes," he said.