Colmenares: Scale of attacks strongly suggests involvement of state resources
Bayan Muna first nominee and former Representative Neri Colmenares pointed to an apparent involvement of state forces in the coordinated and last-ditch campaign falsely claiming the partylist had been disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Colmenares is leading the ongoing filing of their complaint at Comelec’s main offices in Manila and demand the prosecution of false claims and red-tagging against Bayan Muna.
“This is not just fake news; this is election sabotage,” Colmenares declared.
Colmenares said that the scale and coordination of the attacks, from fake government documents to mock coffins appearing simultaneously across the country, strongly suggest the involvement of state resources.
“This is not only a violation of Comelec rules but also of our anti-graft laws for the misuse of public funds for partisan election campaigns,” he fumed.
Posts from at least 13 Facebook accounts claimed that Bayan Muna was disqualified while coffins were placed in several places across the country red-tagging Bayan Muna and fellow Makabayan Coalition parties and candidates.
“The deliberate fabrication of COMELEC documents and press releases to mislead voters is a criminal offense that strikes at the very heart of our democratic process. We are filing this complaint to hold accountable those who seek to disenfranchise voters through deception and intimidation,” Bayan Muna said in its submission to the poll body.
Colmenares emphasized that the fake disqualification news is part of a broader, coordinated campaign to suppress progressive voices in the final days before the election.
“Hindi lang ito simpleng kasinungalingan. Ito ay malinaw na tangkang dayain ang halalan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalaganap ng pekeng impormasyon upang lituhin ang mga botante at harangan na makabalik ang Bayan Muna sa kongreso,” he said.
“The appearance of mock coffins with our names in Quezon City, Tarlac, Bulacan, Albay, and other areas, alongside this fake news campaign, reveals the desperate lengths to which our opponents will go to prevent the people’s voices from being heard in Congress,” he added.
“We have documented evidence that this is a black propaganda campaign, not random acts of misinformation,” Colmenares stated.
The Comelec has issued a clarification that it did not disqualify Bayan Muna, followed by similar announcements by media organizations that they did not publish the misleading reports.
While thanking the Comelec for its clarification, Colmenares however called on the poll body to actively prosecute under the Omnibus Election Code those responsible.
“We appreciate COMELEC’s prompt statement confirming that Bayan Muna remains on the ballot. However, COMELEC must also use its full legal powers to investigate, identify, and prosecute those behind this criminal disinformation campaign,” he said.
Failure to prosecute the perpetrators would set a precedent in succeeding elections, Colmenares added.
“Fake news of disqualification of candidates proliferated during the 2022 presidential elections. We should put a stop to this, otherwise it will be repeated in the 2028 presidential elections,” he pointed out.
Despite the last minute attempts against their party, Colmenares expressed confidence in the discernment of Filipino voters.
“They will see through these desperate tactics and vote according to their conscience and best interests,” he stated.
He also said they will not surrender to human rights violators in the military and the police as well as to corrupt government officials who are probably behind the attacks against Bayan Muna. “We call on our supporters to remain vigilant, to report any instances of disinformation or intimidation, and to exercise their right to vote with courage and conviction on May 12,” he said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
