The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled the registration of Pilipinas Babangon Muli (PBM) as a party-list group, citing misrepresentation of its claimed regional affiliation.
In a 10-page ruling released Wednesday, the Comelec Second Division said PBM failed to prove it genuinely represents Region 4-A (Calabarzon), as none of its 10 nominees are residents of the region.
“Eight of its nominees are residents of Abra, one of Cagayan, and one of Quezon City,” the ruling stated. “Accordingly, all 10 nominees cannot be considered bona fide members of a regional political party purporting to represent Calabarzon.”
Comelec also found the group made “untruthful statements” in its petition for registration, which is grounds for cancellation under election laws. The ruling emphasized that the group’s own admissions contradicted earlier claims of having a regional constituency in Calabarzon.
The decision stemmed from a petition filed by Atty. Jess Christian Ramirez, who accused PBM of falsely presenting itself as a Calabarzon-based regional party-list and misleading the public by implying an affiliation with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
While the Second Division’s ruling is not yet final, PBM has the option to file a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec en banc.