Parties and candidates of the Makabayan bloc have not been disqualified from the 2022 national elections despite claims made by a fake document; members of the bloc have even described the disinformation as a “desperate act by anti-democratic and fascists minions of NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict).”
A fake document dated May 6 bearing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) logo claimed that the the senatorial candidacy of Neri Colmenares and the candidacies of Bayan Muna; Gabriela; Anakpawis; Kabataan; and Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list representatives had been disqualified.
This fake document–riddled with grammatical errors–also falsely claimed that the Makabayan had been involved with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front's (CPP-NPA-NDF): the basis of the disqualification claim.
“Dapat ay maagap na pabulaanan ng Comelec ang kasinungalingang ito at panagutin ang mga nagpalaganap. (The Comelec must deny this lie and hold those behind it accountable),” Makabayan said in a Sunday, May 8 statement.
“Inaasahan naming aksyunan ito kaagad ng Comelec dahil hindi lang ginamit sa malawakan at garapal na panloloko ang pangalan ng mga Komisyoner at ang official name at seal nito. Ang pinapakalat na fake news na ito ay naglalayon ding isabotahe ang pagpapatakbo ng halalan at bahiran ang integridad ng mga Komisyoner at ng mismong Comelec (We hope that the Comelec takes immediate action as not only are the names of commissioners, and the Comelec seal used to spread misinformation, this fake news aims to sabotage the election and tarnish the reputation and integrity of the Comelec and its commissioners),” it continued.
Members of the Makabayan bloc also spoke out against the misinformation and blatant red-tagging against them in a press conference on May 8.
“The story about my disqualification is of course untrue. Bayan Muna party list is also not disqualified as troll farms want the public to believe. This is a usual election tactic done by unscrupulous groups to discourage people from voting a candidate,” said Colmenares in a statement on Sunday, May 8.
“I urge the Comelec to immediately investigate this devious tactic including Philippine National Police (PNP) members and government officials who propagate these lies, and prosecute those violating laws prohibiting the police from participating in partisan political activity and using public funds for these unlawful activities,” Colmenares added.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said that the attempt at disinformation hinted at desperation.
“Bakas na bakas ang desperasyon ng may pakana nito na ilaglag ang Gabriela Partylist dahil mali-mali ang pamemekeng ginawa (Those behind the plot reek of desperation, as their attempt to discredit the Gabriela Partylist is full of mistakes),” Brosas said on May 8.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate similarly pointed out the mistakes in the fake document.
“ nothing but a pathetic desperate act by anti-democratic and fascists minions of NTF-ELCAC...Sa form, substance and grammar pa lang malinaw na FAKE o bogus ito (its clear that this is fake or bogus),” Zarate said.
Meanwhile, Comelec spokesperson John Laudiangco similarly shut down the document as fake news.