Ex-Comelec Chair Abas Tagged In Vote-Buying

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered its former chairperson Sheriff Abas to explain a social media post allegedly showing vote-buying involving his candidacy as Cotabato congressman ahead of the 2026 Bangsamoro parliamentary election (BPE).

In a show-cause order dated Sept. 12, the Comelec committee on kontra bigay (anti-bribe) directed Abas to explain within 24 hours why an election offense complaint or petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.

The order cited a Facebook post by a user identified as “Zaira Mae M. Baraguir,” which alleged that advance vote-buying was taking place in District 2 and referred to P3,000 allegedly being given to voters.

The post was accompanied by a photo showing a sample ballot bearing the words “VOTE #1 SA BALOTA ATTY. SHERIFF ABAS” alongside three P1,000 bills, according to the Comelec.

“It is the position of this Committee that the foregoing constitutes possible violation of presumed vote-buying in violation of Section 261 (a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code (OEC),” the order said.

The committee also cited Section 26 of Comelec Resolution No. 11104, which states that the possession or delivery of money or anything of value together with sample ballots or other campaign materials in favor of or against a candidate shall be presumed to be vote buying and vote selling when accompanied by corroborative evidence.

The Omnibus Election Code prohibits giving, offering or promising money or anything of value to induce a person or the public to vote for or against a candidate.

The Comelec ordered Abas to submit a written answer or explanation within a “non-extendible period of twenty-four hours” from receipt of the show-cause order.

The poll body warned Abas that failure to comply with the order would be considered a waiver of his right to be heard.

The order was issued in Cotabato City on Sept. 12 and signed by committee on kontra bigay vice chairperson Teopisto Elnas Jr.

Meanwhile, the Comelec debunked social media posts claiming that automated counting machines (ACMs) used during the final testing and sealing in Wao, Lanao del Sur, accepted votes only for candidates of the Bangsamoro Grand Coalition (BGC).

The anonymous message was posted by the Facebook pages “United Bangsamoro Justice Party-UBJP” and “Bangsamoro Narratives Update.”

“There was no official report from Wao, Lanao del Sur elevated to the Command Center indicating that the ACMs they received encountered any problem, contrary to the false information being circulated in the post,” the Comelec said.

The Comelec said the testing is conducted by the electoral boards in the presence of political parties, candidates, citizens’ arms, media organizations, local and foreign observers and other election stakeholders.

The Comelec also warned the public against another video circulating on Facebook that purportedly showed unrest in Marawi City.

According to the poll body, the video, posted by a Facebook user identified as “Batang Gadungan,” was not recent and was actually a repost of footage from May 12, 2025, during the national and local elections.

The Comelec reminded the public that spreading false information that could undermine the integrity of the elections or cause confusion and disorder among voters is prohibited under Section 261(z)(11) of the Omnibus Election Code.

Violators may face imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than six years, Comelec said.

Teachers withdraw from poll duties

Apprehensive of possible hostilities, some 800 teachers in the Bangsamoro region had reportedly withdrawn from their election duties on school campuses in politically hostile areas.

Catholic radio station dxMS in Cotabato City reported on Sunday, Sept. 13, that Comelec Chairman George Garcia confirmed that the teachers who balked at performing election duties are based in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Sur and Cotabato City.

The dxMS report also stated that 137 teachers in different schools in Cotabato City had also asked poll officials to excuse them from their election assignments.

PNP ready

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday declared readiness for the first BPE.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the heightened security status will cover all police units in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and neighboring regional police offices until Sept. 30 to secure the election period running from July 16 to Sept. 29.

A total of 10,500 police personnel have been deployed to secure Comelec offices, municipal treasurers’ offices, polling places, control checkpoints and identified security hotspots.

Comelec records show that around 2.4 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots across 5,212 clustered precincts.

A total of 154 candidates are contesting seats comprising 40 party representatives, 32 district representatives and eight sectoral representatives.

Personnel from the 29th and 30th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army’s Fourth Infantry Division (4ID) were also sent as part of the military’s security preparations for the elections.

The 29th Infantry Battalion will be deployed to Barangay Sagonsongan in Marawi City, while the 30th Infantry Battalion will operate in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

4ID commander Maj. Gen. Marion Angcao said the division’s role is focused on helping protect the democratic process and ensuring that voters can exercise their right to vote freely and safely.

The Philippine Coast Guard has sent 60 augmentation personnel and its BRP Capones to Maguindanao province to assist the Coast Guard District in BARMM in maintaining peace and order during the elections.

Meanwhile, the BARMM Ministry of Health and the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence, most known as the Bangsamoro READi, are also prepared to respond to emergencies during the elections today.

With 5,000 volunteers, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Sunday said it is ready to conduct an unofficial parallel count of the first regular BPE.

The PPCRV is a Catholic church-based and non-profit organization that has been tapped by the Comelec as its accredited citizens’ arm for the BARMM polls.

Meanwhile, Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento welcomed the arrival of 108 international observers representing 16 foreign organizations and diplomatic delegations to the country to monitor the BPE.

Sarmiento noted that their presence underscores global interest and support for the region’s democratic transition.

For their part, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Francis Pangilinan have called on political groups, security forces and residents to ensure a peaceful and credible conduct of the first-ever BARMM parliamentary elections.

Welcoming the historic vote, Zubiri urged stakeholders to reject voter intimidation and respect the democratic process.

Pangilinan expressed concern over reports of escalating tensions and gun violence leading up to the polls, which he described as the culmination of a long struggle for Moro self-determination. – With John Unson, Evelyn Macairan, Gerry Lee Gorit, Rainier Allan Ronda, Neil Jayson Servallos