📷: Bayan Muna | FB
Former Bayan Muna Congressman and current Party Chairman Neri Colmenares today led the filing of a formal complaint at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) against the widespread circulation of fake news claiming the disqualification of Bayan Muna from the May 12 elections and the coordinated red-tagging campaign featuring mock coffins and even fake 1000 peso bills in various parts of the country.
“This is not just fake news; this is election sabotage,” Colmenares declared. “The deliberate fabrication of COMELEC documents and press releases to mislead voters is a criminal offense that strikes at the very heart of our democratic process. We are filing this complaint to hold accountable those who seek to disenfranchise voters through deception and intimidation.”
Colmenares emphasized that the fake disqualification news is part of a broader, coordinated campaign to suppress progressive voices in the final days before the election.
“Hindi lang ito simpleng kasinungalingan. Ito ay malinaw na tangkang dayain ang halalan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalaganap ng pekeng impormasyon upang lituhin ang mga botante at harangan na makabalik ang Bayan Muna sa kongreso. “The appearance of mock coffins with our names in Quezon City, Tarlac, Bulacan, Albay, and other areas, alongside this fake news campaign, reveals the desperate lengths to which our opponents will go to prevent the people’s voices from being heard in Congress.”
The complaint filed by Bayan Muna details multiple instances of disinformation, including fabricated COMELEC resolutions, manipulated news articles, and social media posts falsely claiming the party-list has been disqualified or designated as a terrorist organization.
“We have documented evidence that this is a black propaganda campaign, not random acts of misinformation,” Colmenares stated. “Ang mga pekeng dokumento, ang mga kabaong, pekeng pera at ang mga red-tagging posters ay may iisang pinagmulan at layunin – ang hadlangan ang mga progresibong partido na makabalik sa Kongreso. Pero hindi kami titiklop sa mga partylist ng dinastiya at mayayaman dahil ilaban naming baguhin ang party list law para sumara ito sa mga mayayaman. Hindi kami titiklop sa mga human rights violators sa military at sa pulis at papaimbestigahan namin ang EJK at pang-aabuso nila. Hindi kami titiklop sa mga abusado at korap sa gobyerno at kikilatisin namin ang mga pagnanakaw sa budget “ he said.
Colmenares called on the COMELEC to not only issue clarifications but to actively prosecute those responsible under the Omnibus Election Code.
“We appreciate COMELEC’s prompt statement confirming that Bayan Muna remains on the ballot. However, COMELEC must also use its full legal powers to investigate, identify, and prosecute those behind this criminal disinformation campaign,” he said. “Kung hindi ito gagawin ng COMELEC, ito ay magiging precedent na sa bawat eleksyon ay maaaring gamitin ang ganitong uri ng panlilinlang. Fake news of disqualification of candidates proliferated during the 2022 presidential elections. We should put a stop to this, otherwise it will be repeated in the 2028 presidential elections.”
The former lawmaker also questioned the apparent involvement of state forces in the campaign.
“The scale and coordination of these attacks, from fake government documents to mock coffins appearing simultaneously across the country, strongly suggest the involvement of state resources,” Colmenares pointed out. “This is not only a violation of Comelec rules but also of our anti-graft laws for the misuse of public funds for partisan election campaigns .”
Despite these challenges, Colmenares expressed confidence in the discernment of Filipino voters.
“Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, naniniwala kami sa katalinuhan at discernment ng mga Pilipino. They will see through these desperate tactics and vote according to their conscience and best interests,” he stated. “We call on our supporters to remain vigilant, to report any instances of disinformation or intimidation, and to exercise their right to vote with courage and conviction on May 12.”
Colmenares concluded with a message of defiance: “Sa mga nasa likod ng mga kasinungalingang ito: Hindi ninyo kami matatakot. Hindi ninyo mapipigilan ang boses ng mamamayan. Tuloy ang laban para sa tunay na demokrasya at para sa kapakanan ng mga marginalized at oppressed sectors ng ating lipunan.” ###
