Moro Ako Party Out of BARMM Race as Comelec Ruling Becomes Final—What Happens to Its Election Privileges?

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has formally removed the Moro Ako Party from the roster of accredited Major Regional Parliamentary Political Parties (RPPPs) after its cancellation as a regional party became final and executory, just days before the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections.

The Comelec en banc, through Resolution No. 11271, revised the roster of Major RPPPs and struck Moro Ako from the list. The move followed the issuance of a Certificate of Finality and Entry of Judgment on September 7, 2026, covering the poll body’s August 27 resolution that affirmed the cancellation of the party’s registration and accreditation.

Why was Moro Ako disqualified?

The controversy began with a petition filed by Aladin A. Abdul seeking the cancellation of Moro Ako’s registration as an RPPP for the 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections.

In its earlier ruling, the Comelec said Moro Ako had made untruthful representations about the establishment of local chapters that were required under Comelec rules for accreditation.

The requirements include provincial and city chapters in all provinces and cities within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as municipal chapters in a majority of municipalities in the region.

The Comelec found that the party failed to satisfy these requirements and had made representations confirming that the required chapters had been established.

The poll body rejected the party’s explanation that some of the discrepancies were merely typographical errors, according to earlier reporting on the case. The Commission also questioned supporting documents submitted to demonstrate the existence of certain local chapters.

Comelec emphasized that registration and accreditation as an RPPP are privileges rather than automatic rights, and that parties seeking accreditation must ensure that their submissions and representations are complete, accurate and truthful.

Motion for reconsideration rejected

The Comelec initially cancelled Moro Ako’s registration and accreditation on August 4.

The party subsequently sought reconsideration, but on August 27, the Comelec en banc affirmed the cancellation, finding that the motion essentially repeated arguments that had already been considered and addressed.

At that point, the party’s legal options were narrowed considerably.

With the issuance of the Certificate of Finality and Entry of Judgment on September 7, the ruling cancelling Moro Ako’s accreditation became final and immediately executory, according to the Comelec.

Moro Ako loses key election privileges

The consequences go beyond simply being removed from the list.

Comelec said Moro Ako’s accreditation as a Major RPPP is deemed revoked, along with the entitlements, privileges and preferences attached to that status.

Among those withdrawn are the party’s allocation of the 12th copy of election returns and its privilege to appoint election watchers.

The revised list leaves eight Major RPPPs, while the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) remains the Dominant Majority RPPP and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) remains the Dominant Minority RPPP. Their respective accreditation and privileges are not affected by the Moro Ako case.

SunStar reported that 12 RPPPs remain in contention for the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections following Moro Ako’s removal.

What does this mean for the BARMM elections?

The timing makes the decision particularly significant.

The first regular Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections are scheduled for September 14, 2026, with voters set to elect members of the Bangsamoro Parliament and other representatives under the regional electoral system.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia has also warned that misinformation and disinformation remain among the biggest challenges surrounding the upcoming polls.

Garcia has specifically pushed back against claims that the BARMM elections might not proceed, saying there was no Supreme Court restraining order preventing the September 14 elections from taking place.

The Moro Ako case therefore comes at a particularly sensitive point in the electoral calendar, with the poll body already finalizing the roster of participating parties and election preparations.

Could the Supreme Court still become involved?

Earlier in the proceedings, Comelec officials said the cancellation could still be appealed before the Supreme Court.

However, the latest Comelec action is significant because the administrative ruling has now been entered as final and executory.

Any subsequent court action would therefore have to be considered in light of the final Comelec judgment and the Supreme Court’s authority over election-related controversies.

For now, the immediate electoral consequence is clear: Moro Ako is no longer recognized as an accredited Major Regional Parliamentary Political Party for the September 14 BARMM elections, and the privileges attached to that status have been withdrawn.

With election day just around the corner, the bigger question is whether the party will seek further judicial relief—and whether any such move could affect the final shape of the Bangsamoro electoral contest.