MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled the registration and accreditation of Moro Ako Party as a regional parliamentary political party (RPPP) for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) over alleged misrepresentation.
In a resolution released on Tuesday, the Comelec en banc granted the petition of petitioner Aladin Abdul to cancel the registration of Moro Ako Party as RPPP for the parliamentary elections. Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia inhibited from the decision, citing his previous professional relationship with the party’s no. 1 nominee.
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“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Petition to Cancel the Registration as Regional Parliamentary Political Party of MORO AKO PARTY is hereby GRANTED. Accordingly, the Registration and Accreditation of MORO AKO PARTY as a Regional Parliamentary Political Party for purposes of the 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parliamentary Elections is CANCELLED,” the resolution read.
The petitioner sought to cancel the party’s registration as RPPP over alleged material representation, where he noted that the party declared chapters that are non-existent, particularly city chapters in Cotabato City and Lamitan City, as well as the municipal chapters in the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
The poll body noted that under Comelec Resolution No. 11203, every RPPP is required to establish provincial and city chapters in all provinces and cities, and municipal chapters in the majority of municipalities in provinces within the BARMM. It also requires RPPPs to confirm the establishment of the chapters needed within the region.
In response, the political party said that the erroneous province designations were due to typographical errors. It added that the local chapters in Maguindanao del Sur exist and were verified by the municipalities’ election officers where it submitted Affidavits of Existence of the Acting Provincial Chairmen of both Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, as well as photographs of the offices.
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With this, the Comelec en banc said that it found respondent’s defense of typographical errors “flimsy and unacceptable,” adding that it is not convinced that the alleged errors party’s list of chapters offices are “non-actionable.”
It then noted that it ordered the party last June 17 to provide a roster of members and attendance in meetings held in the chapter offices. However, it pointed out that there were no details in the meetings and the documents were all dated June 18, 2026.
It also pointed out that the Affidavit of Existence executed by the acting provincial chairmen of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte were “self-serving and therefore deserves little probative weight,” as they only contained statements supporting the party’s claim of the chapter’s existence.
Meanwhile, it accepted the certifications executed by the barangay chairperson of Barangay Brar, Municipality of Datu Anggal Midtimbiang in Maguindanao del Sur and Barangay Buayan, Municipality of Datu Piang in Maguindanao del Sur which attested that the chapter offices allegedly established by the party were non-existent.
“In sum, We find that Respondent failed to meet the requirement imposed under Sections 30 and 39 of COMELEC Resolution No. 11203 and untruthfully made a statement confirming that it has established chapters in all the provinces and cities, and municipal chapters in the majority of municipalities comprising the provinces within the BARMM mandated under Sections 38(g) of the same Resolution,” the en banc said in its resolution.
With this, the en banc said that the party’s registration or accreditation as RPPP must be canceled based on its untruthful statements and non-compliance with the requirements under the Comelec Resolution No. 11203.
“As a final vote, We emphasize that while parties and organizations have the right to file petitions for registration to participate in the BARMM Elections, the registration and accreditation is not a matter of right, but a privilege granted only upon strict compliance with the requirements prescribed by this Commission. Accordingly, every applicant bears the responsibility to ensure that all submissions and representations are complete, accurate, and truthful,” it added. /jpv
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