Claim: Rappler and the Inquirer reported that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified Bayan Muna from the 2025 midterm elections due to its alleged links to terrorism.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim, posted on Facebook on May 10 by several Facebook pages, has gathered more than 100 cumulative shares as of writing. Some of these pages have more than 5,000 followers.
The claim circulated in a format that mimics news reports from legitimate media outlets such as Inquirer and Rappler. Some pages have also shared a fabricated statement designed to resemble official press releases from Comelec, using a similar layout and formatting.
The post reads, “In a resolution released on Saturday, May 10, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) disqualifies the Bayan Muna Party-list from participating in the 2025 National and Local Elections.
The COMELEC has identified the Bayan Muna Party-list to be a threat to the national security for their affiliations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army, or CPP-NPA.”
Another post reads, “In a press statement, the COMELEC advised the voters that any votes for Bayan Muna will be considered “null and void.”
The facts: Media outlets such as Rappler and Inquirer have not published any news about the alleged disqualification of the Bayan Muna party-list group. This is contrary to the post of a Facebook page named Konta Baghak that circulated a fabricated or fake graphic and story.
The materials carried false headlines, including: “Bayan Muna, disqualified by the Comelec in the 2025 elections” and “Comelec disqualifies Bayan Muna for terrorism links.”
The Comelec en banc has not issued any resolution disqualifying the Bayan Muna Party-list from the upcoming elections. The group remains officially included in the certified list of party-list organizations that voters can select on Monday, May 12.
In a Facebook post, Comelec denied issuing a resolution disqualifying Bayan Muna party-list and clarified that no such statement has been released. It also urged the public not to believe the claim.
“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 MAARING IBOYO SA LUNES (May 12, 2025),” Comelec said in a statement.
(The Commission En Banc did not release a resolution disqualifying Bayan Muna Party-list in the upcoming elections and they are still officially included in the list of party-list groups the voters can choose from on Monday, May 12, 2025.)
Comelec also reiterated that this kind of style and imitation of a document that makes it appear as if it was released by a government agency is a direct and blatant violation of every Filipino’s right to accurate and truthful information, especially during the election season.
Target of red-tagging: Bayan Muna and its members have repeatedly been targets of red-tagging.
In 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) finally defined red-tagging as an act that threatens individuals. It also pertains to the use of threats and intimidation to “discourage subversive activities.”
Previous fact-checks: Similar narratives falsely claiming the disqualification of Bayan Muna and other progressive groups were also debunked during the 2022 elections.
Rappler has also published several election-related fact checks in the run-up to the May 12 elections. – Jene Pangue/Rappler.com
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