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In the past few days, the public witnessed celebrities and internet personalities throwing their hat in the ring by filing their certificate of candidacies (COC) for mid-term elections on May 12, 2025.

With so many stars seeking a post in the national and local governments, the filing of COCs generated mixed views, especially online. Others showed support to these celebrities who wanted to help their fellow kababayans, while others were very critical of their decisions.

That's why many netizens were quick to notice the post of Bolera actor Gardo Versoza on Instagram, which contained a photo of the late comedy legend Dolphy and his reason for not joining politics.

In the same post, Gardo asked, "Sa mga tatakbo sa 2025 lalung lalo na ang mga artista at sports icons, dapat bang imaging gabay ang sinabi ni Dolphy?"

In an interview on Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho, the late “Comedy King” stated that he fears what will happen if he ever wins.

Dolphy told Jessica Soho, “Doon nga ako natatakot, kasi baka manalo ako. Kung talagang papasok ako riyan, talagang magsisilbi ka sa bayan. Kung mapapabayaan ko, huwag na,”

In a GMA News Online report, Dolphy shared in his autobiography, Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-Isa, that former Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile offered him to run for the Senate in the late 1980s.

The comedy icon added that he was also asked to join the mayoral race in Manila.

Dolphy passed away at the age of 83 on July 10, 2012 due to multiple organ failure and the complications brought about by severe pneumonia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease and acute renal failure.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gardo Versoza (@gardo_versoza)

Dolphy's message somehow resonate with Gardo's previous statement about endorsing politician during elections.

In an interview with PEP.ph in 2010, he admitted that someone approached him for a political endorsement.

He related, "Merong nag-offer sa pangangampanya. Kaya nga lang kasi, nagko-contradict dun sa paniniwala ko. Feeling ko, parang hangga't walang nagpapasa ng [bill] para maisabatas yung paglilimita ng mga asset ng kung sinuman [sa mga kandidato], hindi talaga mawawala yung corruption, di ba?

"Kasi siyempre, 'yan ang parang hahabulin nila [once elected]. Kumbaga, ang magkamal [ng salapi], di ba? Pero kung lilimitahan 'yon, like, let's say meron ka lang certain amount, na pag na-reach mo na yung amount na 'yon, lahat ng sosobra, puwedeng ibigay na lang sa charitable institutions. So, maraming makikinabang kapag gano'n.”

"Pag tinanggap na nila yung gano'ng sistema, 'saka ako maniniwala na talagang gusto nilang magsilbi sa bayan. Pero hangga't hindi sila open sa gano'n... Alam mo yung iba, mag-iipon at mag-iipon 'yan [habang nasa puwesto]," Gardo added.

Meanwhile, here are the celebrities who are running in the 2025 elections: