Davao city: Misinformation and disinformation remain the biggest challenges facing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ahead of the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE), according to its chairperson George Garcia.
According to Philippines News Agency, Garcia highlighted the spread of false information, including claims that the BPE will not proceed, as a significant issue as the elections draw near. "The biggest challenge in holding the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections is misinformation and disinformation," Garcia stated during the 2nd Bangsamoro Parliament Speakers Bureau on Tuesday in Davao City.
Garcia expressed concerns that more false information is expected to emerge as the election day in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) approaches. He emphasized, "There is still misinformation circulating right now regarding whether or not the election will push through... and, as the election approaches, these are bound to increase." Garcia reassured the public that the elections are set to proceed as scheduled, stating, "There is no restraining order from the Supreme Court. Therefore, our BARMM Parliamentary Elections will definitely push through on Sept. 14, 2026."
To combat the spread of fake news, Garcia urged the public to report misleading or false information related to the BPE through the Comelec's Incident Report Portal at https://tinyurl.com/i-report-COMELEC.
In a related development, the Comelec en banc has cancelled the accreditation of the Moro Ako Party as a Regional Parliamentary Political Party (RPPP) for the 2026 BPE. The commission granted a petition filed by Aladin Abdul on May 5, seeking the cancellation of the party's registration. In a 17-page resolution, the commission stated, "Wherefore, premises considered, the Petition to Cancel the Registration as Regional Parliamentary Political Party of Moro Ako Party is hereby granted."
The resolution further explained that the cancellation resulted from untruthful statements made by the Moro Ako Party in its application for accreditation. "In sum, We find that Respondent failed to meet the requirement imposed under Sections 30 and 39 of Comelec Resolution No. 11203 and untruthfully made a statement confirming that it has established chapters in all the provinces and cities, and municipal chapters in the majority of the municipalities comprising the provinces within the BARMM," the resolution noted.
