MANILA, Philippines — The Moro Ako Party has suffered another setback ahead of the historic 2026 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied its motion for reconsideration and upheld the cancellation of its registration and accreditation as a regional parliamentary political party.
In its latest ruling, the Comelec en banc found no merit in Moro Ako’s appeal, effectively affirming its earlier decision to cancel the party’s accreditation for the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections. The poll body said the cancellation was based on material misrepresentation in the party’s registration documents.
The controversy began when petitioner Aladin Abdul challenged Moro Ako’s registration, alleging that the party had declared chapters that either did not exist or were inaccurately identified in its accreditation application. The allegations involved purported chapters in areas including Cotabato City, Lamitan City, and municipalities in Maguindanao.
On August 4, the Comelec en banc granted the petition to cancel the party’s registration. In its earlier ruling, the commission concluded that Moro Ako had failed to meet requirements concerning the establishment of chapters across the region and had made untruthful representations in its application. The poll body stressed that registration and accreditation are privileges that require applicants to submit complete, accurate and truthful information.
Moro Ako Says Errors Were Merely Typographical
Moro Ako disputed the allegations, arguing that some of the incorrect province designations were the result of typographical errors. The party also maintained that its chapters in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur existed and cited affidavits and verification from local election officers in its defense.
But the Comelec found the explanation insufficient. The commission described the party’s defense as “flimsy and unacceptable” and stood by its finding of material misrepresentation, leaving the cancellation of its accreditation in place.
What the Ruling Means for the Historic BARMM Elections
The decision comes as BARMM prepares for its first parliamentary elections on September 14, a major milestone in the Bangsamoro peace and political transition. Millions of voters are expected to elect members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament, replacing the transitional arrangement in which parliament members were appointed rather than directly elected.
The Comelec has been tightening its oversight of political parties and candidates as the campaign period enters its final stretch. Election officials have also warned political groups that violations of election rules and basic accreditation requirements could lead to disqualification or other sanctions.
Earlier reports indicated that Moro Ako could still seek relief before the Supreme Court following the original cancellation ruling. However, the latest Comelec decision means that, unless another court intervention changes the situation, the party’s registration remains cancelled for purposes of the upcoming BARMM parliamentary elections.
With the September 14 polls fast approaching and Comelec saying preparations are already in high gear, the Moro Ako case has become another reminder of the intense legal and political scrutiny surrounding the region’s first democratic parliamentary vote.
The bigger question now is whether Moro Ako’s legal battle is truly over—or whether the party will make one final move before BARMM voters head to the polls.
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