IOM Update
May 11, 2025
Red-tagging and a large-scale disinformation campaign targeting party lists under the Makabayan coalition are intensifying just hours before voting begins for the 2025 Philippine midterm elections. The on-ground teams of the International Observer Mission have confirmed multiple reports of fake news, noting a sudden surge in disinformation posts reported online and from feedback from field respondents.
On May 10, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released an advisory refuting a fake press statement circulating online that claimed the Bayan Muna partylist is disqualified for the local and national elections. The poll body condemned the act, stating it is “a direct violation of the right of Filipinos to accurate and correct information in the election season.” It also reminded that spreading false information is considered an election offense under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.
The fake resolution, supposedly signed by COMELEC Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, claimed that due to Bayan Muna’s ties to the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF), all votes cast for the partylist are considered null and void.
The influx of red-tagging and disinformation comes despite the promulgation last February 19 of COMELEC Resolution No. 11116, which prohibits “discrimination and labeling of candidates as members of criminal or terrorist groups” without evidence. News outlets Inquirer and Rappler in separate announcements reported that Facebook pages using their names also disseminated the fake COMELEC resolution and called for the people to only follow their legitimate accounts.
The escalating attacks against Bayan Muna and other partylists under the Makabayan coalition go beyond the digital space. On May 9, an IOM team deployed in Southern Luzon came upon a makeshift coffin bearing posters vilifying the Bayan Muna, Kabataan, ACT Teachers, and Gabriela partylists and linking them to the communist insurgency. It was also emblazoned with photos of supposed slain NPA soldiers. Similar incidents were reported in the early morning of May 10 in the cities of San Jose Del Monte and Tarlac, both in Central Luzon.
On May 5, Bayan Muna’s first nominee Neri Colmenares and supporters trooped to the COMELEC head office to protest and file a complaint against the “massive and nationwide” black propaganda and vilification campaign against their partylist.
The mission delegates are continuously documenting these attacks. The Mission continues to receive reports of widespread red-tagging, vilification, and harassment of candidates and party lists, and we are obligated to include this in our report as we evaluate the freedom, honesty, and fairness of the elections.
As the Filipino people vote tomorrow, its ground teams deployed across the country will closely monitor the conduct of the elections and will continue documenting electoral and human rights violations. #
ICHRP is conducting an International Observer Mission in 2025 to monitor for elections-related human rights violations. Learn more at https://www.ichrp.net/IOM2025
