MANILA (UPDATED) — Bayan Muna party-list, a member of the Makabayan coalition, is not disqualified from the upcoming May 12 midterm elections, and any announcement claiming otherwise is misinformation or "fake news," the Commission on Elections said Saturday.

Bayan Muna party-list is seeking a comeback in the House of Representatives after failing to secure a seat in the 2022 elections.

The Comelec said there had been a fake press statement claiming to be from the Office of the Comelec spokesperson regarding the disqualification of Bayan Muna party-list in the polls.

Bayan Muna to ask Marcos to cancel PrimeWater joint venture agreements

The fake announcement copied the layout and format of the Comelec's press statement to make it look legitimate, the poll body said.

Facebook page Kontra Baghak and others have posted the fake resolution as well as screenshots of supposed news articles about the disqualification.

Online reporter Dominique Flores has called out the page for using her name in a fake screenshot and is urging the public to help report Kontra Baghak and others to the platform.

"Walang nilabas na Resolution ang Commission En Banc na nagdidiskwalipika sa Bayan Muna Party-List ngayong halalan at sila ay opisyal pa rin na kabilang sa listahan ng mga party-list groups na maaaring iboto sa Lunes (May 12, 2025)," Comelec stressed.

(The Commission En Banc did not issue any resolution disqualifying Bayan Muna Party-List and they are still part of the official list of party-list groups people can vote for on Monday)

FACT CHECK: ‘Di totoong diskwalipikado ang Bayan Muna sa Halalan 2025

The Comelec said a false announcement that appears to come from a government agency is a direct and blatant violation of Filipinos' right to accurate and truthful information, especially during election season.

It reminded the public that dissemination of false and alarming information is an election offense under Section 261(z)(11) of the Omnibus Election Code.

MAKABAYAN CALLS FOR COMELEC INVESTIGATION

In a May 10 letter to Comelec that the Makabayan coalition shared with media, they called the poll body's attention to "the dissemination of posts that red-tag and discredit" its candidates.

It said the posts have "the apparent intention to sow fear, panic, and confusion", disrupt the elections, and flout Comelec authority.

Makabayan also called on Comelec to condemn these as election violations and to issue a clarification on the alleged disqualification of Bayan Muna.

"Finally, we pray that you investigate and prosecute the persons responsible pursuant to laws and rules," Makabayan said in its letter signed by Reps. France Castro of ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women's Party, and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan Party-List.  

On Saturday, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines had to disavow a fake pastoral letter where it supposedly endorsed a number of candidates for senator in an election campaign that has seen widespread use of disinformation.

‘CBCP endorsement letter’ on election candidates is fake

"Please exercise discernment when reading such social media posts," Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP secretary general, said.