Disqualification, Celebrities, and Criminals: Who Can REALLY Run for Office?!

Election season in the Philippines is like a never-ending teleserye—full of drama, plot twists, and a lot of people passionately debating politics (actually, they are really debating about politicians and not politics, as they love talking about the lives of others and not actual government policies).

Every election cycle, we hear the same questionable arguments from highly engaged voters demanding that certain candidates be disqualified:

❌ “Dapat i-disqualify yung walang pera!”
❌ “Dapat i-disqualify yung hindi kilala!”
❌ “Dapat i-disqualify yung mga celebrity kasi wala silang alam!”
❌ “May kaso siya, dapat di siya pwede tumakbo!”

But before we go banning half the country from running, let’s break it down: Who can run? Who can’t? And which disqualification demands don’t hold up legally?

So, Who Can Actually Run? (A.K.A. The Basic Qualifications)

Before discussing disqualifications, let’s check what the law actually says about who can run for office.

📌 For President & Vice President (Article VII, Sections 2 & 3 of the 1987 Constitution)
✔ Natural-born Filipino
✔ At least 40 years old
✔ Able to read and write
✔ Registered voter
✔ Resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years before the election

📌 For Senators (Article VI, Section 3)
✔ Natural-born Filipino
✔ At least 35 years old
✔ Able to read and write
✔ Registered voter
✔ Resident of the Philippines for at least 2 years before the election

📌 For House of Representatives Members (Article VI, Section 6)
✔ Natural-born Filipino
✔ At least 25 years old
✔ Able to read and write
✔ Registered voter
✔ Resident of the district they are running in for at least 1 year

📌 For Local Government Officials (Local Government Code of 1991)
✔ Natural-born Filipino (for governors and mayors) or Filipino citizen (for councilors & barangay officials)
✔ Age requirement varies (from 18 to 35+, depending on the position)
✔ Able to read and write
✔ Registered voter
✔ Resident of the locality for at least 1 year

Notice something? Nowhere does it say you need to be rich, famous, or free from pending cases to run.

Debunking the Most Common Disqualification Arguments

Let’s tackle these popular yet legally incorrect disqualification arguments one by one:

1. “Dapat i-disqualify yung walang pera!”

🚫 Being poor is NOT a disqualification.

✔ The Constitution does NOT require a bank account, campaign funds, or family wealth to run for office.
✔ Some of the most respected leaders in Philippine history came from humble beginnings.
✔ The whole point of democracy is that ANY Filipino who meets the legal requirements can run, rich or poor.

2. “Dapat i-disqualify yung hindi kilala!”

🚫 Being a “nobody” is NOT a disqualification.

✔ The law does NOT require a candidate to be a celebrity, a politician’s relative, or a social media star to qualify.
✔ If a complete unknown wins an election fair and square, that’s called democracy, not a problem.
✔ Being popular makes it easier to get votes, but it’s not a legal requirement.

3. “Dapat i-disqualify yung mga celebrity kasi wala silang alam!”

🚫 Being a celebrity is NOT a disqualification.

✔ The law does NOT prohibit actors, singers, or other entertainers from running for office.
✔ Assuming celebrities are “unqualified” just because of their profession is unfair. Many have proven to be effective public servants.

✔ Examples:

• Isko Moreno – Former actor who served as Mayor of Manila, implementing significant urban development projects.
• Lito Lapid – Former action star who became a senator and played a role in passing various legislative measures.
• Vilma Santos – Actress-turned-politician who served as Batangas Governor and Congresswoman.

4. “May kaso siya, dapat di siya pwede tumakbo!”

🚫 Having a pending legal case is NOT an automatic disqualification.

✔ Only a final conviction can disqualify a candidate. Until then, they are presumed innocent.

✔ Examples:

• Leila de Lima – Ran for re-election to the Senate in 2022 despite being detained on drug charges.
• Sara Duterte – Faced impeachment complaints but remained eligible to run for office.

These arguments may come from a place of concern, but legally speaking, they don’t hold up.

List of Celebrities Running in 2025

Since celebrity candidates always become the center of debates, here are some of them who are running for office in 2025:

📌 Isko Moreno – Running for Mayor of Manila
📌 Mocha Uson – Running for Councilor of Manila’s 3rd District
📌 Arron Villaflor – Running for Board Member of Tarlac’s 2nd District
📌 Willie Revillame – Running for Senator
📌 Richard Gomez – Running for Governor of Leyte
📌 Lucy Torres-Gomez – Running for Senator
📌 Manny Pacquiao – Running for Senator
📌 Herbert Bautista – Running for Senator
📌 Jinggoy Estrada – Running for Senator
📌 Robin Padilla – Running for Senator
📌 Raffy Tulfo – Running for Senator
📌 Loren Legarda – Running for Senator
📌 EJ Obiena – Running for Senator
📌 Leni Robredo – Running for Mayor of Naga City
📌 Richard Mata – Running for Senator

📢 Disclaimer: The list above is based on currently available information and may not be fully accurate. Some individuals may have withdrawn their candidacies or filed for different positions. For the most updated list of candidates, refer to official announcements from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) or reputable news sources.

Like it or not, as long as they meet the qualifications, they can run. Whether they should win? That’s up to the voters.

Final Thoughts: Elections Are About Voting, Not Cancelling

📌 Disqualifying a candidate is based on law, not emotions.
📌 Not liking a candidate is a reason to vote against them, not disqualify them.
📌 Being rich and famous is NOT a legal qualification or disqualification.
📌 Being poor and unknown is NOT a legal disqualification.
📌 Having a pending case is NOT a disqualification unless there’s a conviction. (Sad noh? If only people understood the need to amend the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines for the better so we can do this. That’s for a separate article.)
📌 Being a celebrity is NOT a disqualification—stop automatically assuming they are idiots.

📢 Election season is here—less noise, more facts, and let’s vote wisely! 🗳

Legal Disclaimer:

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers are encouraged to verify information from official government sources and seek legal counsel for election-related concerns.