Chavit to continue platform despite poll withdrawal

After formally withdrawing his candidacy from the coming midterm polls on Wednesday, former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Manong Chavit” Singson vowed to continue with his platform —helping jeepney drivers and operators with his e-jeepney project and producing more financially empowered Filipinos.

Singson, accompanied by his staff, arrived at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila at around 10 a.m., where he was welcomed by Comelec Chairman George Garcia and Comelec Law Department officials.

I’m an interview, Singson reiterated his “may isang salita” (man of his word) campaign mantra.

“I will continue all that I promised — helping drivers, the VBank, my e-jeepney project. It will continue. All the equipment has arrived in Lima, Batangas. The VBank will continue as well. I’ll even give out prizes until February,” he told reporters.

Singson, the chairman of the LCS Group, aims to manufacture 500 e-jeepneys per month, along with about 2,000 e-bikes and 1,000 e-tricycles, adding that production will ramp up in the coming months.

Singson, who was diagnosed with pneumonia, said he sought divine intervention in making the tough decision to withdraw his candidacy despite the growing number of supporters across the country.

“I remembered the Bible verse, ‘Ask and you will receive.’ I prayed to be kept alive until Sunday so I could go out and express my gratitude. And right away, I fell asleep. That’s why I withdrew, because I didn’t want to be hit with a third lung issue. Right now, it’s pneumonia, which is more serious,” he revealed.

“I can do more to help people if I’m alive,” he added, saying that the tough campaign period would have killed him if he continued with his Senate bid.

Singson could have sent a representative to file his withdrawal, Garcia said in a previous interview.

However, he opted to personally file it because “he didn’t want people to think that he was just fooling the Filipino people.”

Asked about his current condition, he replied: “I feel better now. I can fight again.”

Back to zero

Garcia, in a separate interview, said the poll body would go back to zero in printing the election ballots following the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court, which would allow them to delist Singson.

“We may now put in the names of some candidates for senator who were the subjects of the TRO of the SC. His number 58 will be given to another candidate and the positioning may be changed also. The possibly affected are candidates between ‘M’ and ‘S,’” he said.

Garcia maintained that Singson cannot be substituted, as it is not allowed by the law because only candidates who died or were disqualified before the elections are eligible for substitution.

The Comelec chairperson also sought forgiveness from the Filipino people for the loss of P150 million worth of six million printed ballots that will be shredded in the coming days.

“That is part of the election process, and we cannot blame the SC for exercising its powers. Our kababayan should accept that it is part of the process, the rule of law. The Comelec is very sorry for what happened. One thing is for sure, the exercise of suffrage this 12 May 2025 will push through even though the printing of ballots is now back to zero,” Garcia said.

Concerning the reprinting of ballots, Garcia said the most ideal start date is Monday, 20 January, but the Comelec will wait for further developments, as ballot printing is a multi-phase process.