In a surprising move, AGRI Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee has decided to pull out of the senatorial race. Lee made the announcement during a press conference in Manila, explaining that his decision stemmed from a lack of adequate campaign infrastructure to effectively connect with voters nationwide. Instead of pursuing a Senate seat, Lee will now concentrate on securing the re-election of his party to continue their work in agriculture and food security.
Lee shared insights from his travels across the Philippines, noting the challenges in reaching out to the public and promoting his vision. He emphasized the need for more time to build stronger connections with Filipinos and to effectively campaign. Despite stepping back from the Senate race, Lee remains committed to supporting farmers, fisherfolk, and local food producers, whom he refers to as ‘food security soldiers,’ in their efforts to make food more affordable for everyone.
Under Lee’s guidance, AGRI Party-list has been instrumental in passing significant legislation, such as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (RA 11953) and the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act (RA 11985). Lee is also advocating for the passage of several other bills, including the Cheaper Rice Act, Post-harvest Facilities Act, Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal Act, and Fishing Shelters and Ports Act.
Lee officially submitted his withdrawal from the Senate race at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros, Manila. He explained that after careful consideration, it became clear that the time and resources needed to effectively campaign were insufficient. Following his withdrawal, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia confirmed that while Lee’s name would still appear on the ballots, any votes cast for him would be considered stray votes and not counted in the upcoming May elections.