Latest news with #BayanMuna
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bogus disqualification claims target Philippine political party ahead of vote
"The COMELEC has disqualified the BAYAN MUNA Party-list from participating in the 2025 midterm elections," reads a Facebook post shared May 10. It featured screenshots of Comelec's supposed ruling on a disqualification case filed by a petitioner named Angela O. Aguilar against Bayan Muna which is seeking a seat in Congress in the upcoming mid-term vote (archived link). The resolution -- apparently docketed "SPA No. 24-059" -- says the party-list group was disqualified for having links to a communist rebel group (archived link). Another Facebook post purports to show a Comelec press announcement quoting its spokesman John Rex Laudiangco as saying: "Votes cast for the BAYAN MUNA PARTYLIST will be considered null and void." Screenshots claiming to show news reports announcing Bayan Muna's disqualification also surfaced but were dismissed by The Philippine Star, Inquirer,ABS-CBN News and Rappler (archived here, here, here and here). "The Commission En Banc has not released a resolution disqualifying the Bayan Muna Party-list during this elections," Comelec said in a post on its official Facebook page on May 10 (archived link). "They are still officially included in the list of candidates for party-list groups for the election on Monday (May 12, 2025)." The circulating resolution and press announcement are bogus. A search through Comelec's notices on special action cases found "SPA No. 24-059" refers to an unrelated petition involving Jose Bunilla who was declared a "nuisance candidate" by the election body (archived link). A petitioner named Angela O. Aguilar, who claimed to be a secretary-general of a nongovernment organisation for underprivileged women, sought to disqualify Bayan Muna in 2019 (archived link). But her petition was dismissed in 2020, according to several Philippine news reports (archived here, here, here). Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna said in a post on the group's Facebook page on May 10: "There is no reason to disqualify the group and the Comelec knows this. We are a legitimate party-list group joining in the exercise of the elections (archived link)." AFP has debunked similar false disqualification claims targeting the party during the 2022 and 2019 elections.
AFP
11-05-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Bogus disqualification claims target Philippine political party ahead of vote
"The COMELEC has disqualified the BAYAN MUNA Party-list from participating in the 2025 midterm elections," reads a Facebook post shared May 10. It featured screenshots of Comelec's supposed ruling on a disqualification case filed by a petitioner named Angela O. Aguilar against Bayan Muna which is seeking a seat in Congress in the upcoming mid-term vote (archived link). The resolution -- apparently docketed "SPA No. 24-059" -- says the party-list group was disqualified for having links to a communist rebel group (archived link). Another Facebook post purports to show a Comelec press announcement quoting its spokesman John Rex Laudiangco as saying: "Votes cast for the BAYAN MUNA PARTYLIST will be considered null and void." Image Screenshots of the false posts taken May 11, 2025 Screenshots claiming to show news reports announcing Bayan Muna's disqualification also surfaced but were dismissed by The Philippine Star, Inquirer,ABS-CBN News and Rappler (archived here, here, here and here). "The Commission En Banc has not released a resolution disqualifying the Bayan Muna Party-list during this elections," Comelec said in a post on its official Facebook page on May 10 (archived link). "They are still officially included in the list of candidates for party-list groups for the election on Monday (May 12, 2025)." The circulating resolution and press announcement are bogus. A search through Comelec's notices on special action cases found "SPA No. 24-059" refers to an unrelated petition involving Jose Bunilla who was declared a "nuisance candidate" by the election body (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the docket number on the fabricated document (L) and the Comelec notice A petitioner named Angela O. Aguilar, who claimed to be a secretary-general of a nongovernment organisation for underprivileged women, sought to disqualify Bayan Muna in 2019 (archived link). But her petition was dismissed in 2020, according to several Philippine news reports (archived here, here, here). Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna said in a post on the group's Facebook page on May 10: "There is no reason to disqualify the group and the Comelec knows this. We are a legitimate party-list group joining in the exercise of the elections (archived link)." AFP has debunked similar false disqualification claims targeting the party during the 2022 and 2019 elections.
Filipino Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Comelec: Bayan Muna not disqualified, warns public against fake election news
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) clarified on Saturday that Bayan Muna party-list remains eligible to participate in the May 12 midterm elections, debunking circulating claims of its disqualification as 'fake news.' Bayan Muna, a member of the Makabayan coalition, is eyeing a return to the House of Representatives after failing to win a seat in the 2022 elections. Comelec said a falsified press statement, which mimicked the official format of the poll body's announcements, falsely claimed the disqualification of Bayan Muna. The misleading content has been posted on several platforms, including the Facebook page Kontra Baghak. Online journalist Dominique Flores also denounced the use of her name in a fake news screenshot, urging the public to report the misleading posts. 'There is no resolution from the Commission En Banc disqualifying Bayan Muna Party-List in this election. They remain officially listed among party-list groups that can be voted for on Monday,' the Comelec emphasized. The commission condemned the spread of disinformation, warning that fake announcements designed to look official undermine the public's right to truthful information—particularly during the critical election period. It reminded the public that circulating false and alarming claims is an election offense under Section 261(z)(11) of the Omnibus Election Code.
Filipino Times
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Duterte's arrest marks progress toward justice for EJK victims, says ex-lawmaker
The arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte represents a major step forward in seeking justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the previous administration's drug war, according to Bayan Muna chairperson and former lawmaker Neri Colmenares, along with other progressive groups. In a statement, Colmenares expressed that while Duterte's arrest is long overdue, it sends a strong message that justice can be achieved through persistent effort. Duterte was detained by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in compliance with an International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice, following an arrest order from the International Criminal Court (ICC). 'This arrest is a significant step toward justice for the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations under his administration,' Colmenares, who also served as a co-counsel for the victims filing the crimes against humanity case with the ICC, said. 'While this arrest has been long awaited, it sends a powerful message that justice can be attained through continued struggle and perseverance. We have consistently called for accountability for the massive human rights violations during the Duterte administration, especially the thousands of lives lost in the so-called 'War on Drugs',' he added. Meanwhile, Teddy Casiño, chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, stated that the fight for accountability is far from over, as many of Duterte's alleged 'conspirators' remain unaccounted for. 'This may be a victory, but the fight is far from finished. Duterte's conspirators are still at large. There is still a long trial ahead. Many lives were lost, and even now, extrajudicial killings and red-tagging continue, despite Duterte no longer being in office,' Casiño said. 'Duterte's arrest is a crucial milestone in the quest for justice. It proves that no one, not even tyrants, can evade accountability. But we must not stop here. True justice is not just about an arrest; it is about court rulings, the imposition of penalties, and ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated. While justice may have taken time, today we take a major step forward,' he added. Over the weekend, rumors spread that the ICC would soon issue an arrest order for Duterte, due to mass murder charges related to his involvement in the crimes against humanity during his war on drugs. At the same time, Duterte, his family, and key allies traveled to Hong Kong to meet with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges for his role in the drug war, during which thousands of individuals were killed. While the campaign was hailed by many, it was heavily criticized by human rights defenders for its violent and bloody nature. Colmenares was among the lawyers representing the complainants, who are relatives of drug war victims, in their case against Duterte before the ICC.
