Chavit Singson’s Name to Stay on Ballots Despite Senate Race Withdrawal

Despite pulling out of the senatorial race for the upcoming May 2025 elections, former Ilocos Norte governor Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson’s name will still appear on the official ballots, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Comelec Chair George Garcia explained that any votes cast for Singson would be classified as stray votes. Garcia stated, ‘If the withdrawal goes through, we won’t be able to take his name off the ballot. Any votes he receives will be considered stray.’ Singson, who cited health concerns as his reason for withdrawing, has not yet officially notified the Comelec at their main office in Intramuros, Manila. Singson, also known for his previous role as a deputy national security adviser, is one of the 66 candidates vying for a senatorial seat in the national and local elections scheduled for May 12. The Comelec began printing approximately 73 million ballots on January 6 for the midterm and parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.