LIST: Celebrities, personalities running for the 2025 elections
Several celebrities and personalities have filed their respective COCs for the upcoming 2025 elections.
From Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, hopeful politicians from across the country will file their certificate of candidacy for the position they are eyeing. For the May 2025 midterm elections, a total of 18,280 positions are up for grabs including senators, party-list representatives, house of representatives, and local government positions.
Many celebrities are either reelectionists or neophytes vying for a seat, some of the first introduced were Eat Bulaga! host Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and actor Lito Lapid are part of President Bongbong Marcos’ “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” lineup.
Here are the celebrities who have filed their COCs:
Senate
- Lito Lapid (actor) - The Batang Quiapo actor seeks his fourth term in the Senate. He said he would push for free legal assistance.
- Phillip Salvador (former actor) - Salvador is seeking a seat in the Senate and will push for crime reduction and anti-drug laws.
- Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (TV host) - Former senate president and Eat Bulaga! host Tito Sotto eyes senate seat once again. According to him, he will push for the government to rightsize and for laws banning fake news and content, among others.
- Willie Ong (doctor-social media personality) - Ong will be running for senator amid his battle with cancer. His wife, Dra. Liza Ong filed his COC on Thursday, Oct. 3. His legal counsel, Atty. Gilbert Lauengco said that Ong is confident in doing a senator's job despite his medical condition.
House of Representatives
- Arjo Atayde (actor) - Quezon City 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde seeks reelection. He was accompanied by his mother, actress Sylvia Sanchez, incumbent Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto during his filing of COC at the Comelec-NCR office in San Juan City.
- Jolo Revilla (actor) - Jolo also seeks reelection as the Cavite 1st District Rep.
- Lani Mercado-Revilla (actress) - The incumbent Cavite 2nd District Representative, files her COC for reelection with her husband, Sen. Bong Revilla.
- Marco Gumabao (actor) - Gumabao will vie as a representative for the 4th district of Camarines Sur.
Party-lists
- Deo Balbuena (social media personality) - Balbuena, popularly known as “Diwata” filed his COC as the fourth nominee for Vendors party-list.
Local positions
- Alfred Vargas (actor) - Vargas is seeking reelection as the councilor of Quezon City's fifth District.
- Dan Fernando (former actor) - Former actor Dan Fernando seeks the Bulacan governor seat once more.
- Danny Ildefonso (former PBA player) - the “PBA legend” filed his COC for councilor at the Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Comelec office.
- Enzo Pineda (actor) - Actor-turned-marine reservist is eyeing the QC 5th District Councilor position. He was accompanied by his girlfriend, actress Michelle Vito during the filing.
- Ion Perez (TV host) - The It’s Showtime host is running for councilor at Concepcion, Tarlac.
- JC Parker (former actress) - Former Viva Hot Babe JC Parker seeks reelection as the city councilor of Angeles, Pampanga.
- Lou Veloso (comedian-actor) - The veteran actor filed his COC for Manila District 6 councilor.
- Lucy Torres (former TV host) - Torres seeks reelection as the mayor of Ormoc City.
- Luis Manzano (actor-TV host) - Luis is running for the Batangas vice governor seat. This is his first time entering politics.
- Paul “Bong” Alvarez (former PBA player) - PBA’s “Mr. Excitement” is running for councilor for the third district of Manila.
- Rosemarie Tan Pamulaklakin (social media personality) - Content creator-entrepreneur Rosmar is vying for a councilor seat for the first district of Manila.
- Vilma Santos-Recto (actress) - The “Star for All Seasons” is eyeing for Batangas governor seat again after winning the position in 2016.
This is a running list that will be continuously updated.