Comelec flags fake news on Antipolo poll bet‘s ‘disqualification’

MANILA, Philippines — A post on social media claiming that a son of the late congressman Romeo Acop has been disqualified from running in a special election in Antipolo City this month is false, according to the Commission on Elections.

The Comelec yesterday said that the post on VIS News Media alleging that Bong Acop was disqualified due to vote-buying was not true.

The poll body clarified that although the Comelec law department received a complaint against Acop on Monday, it said the case has yet to be resolved.

The Comelec said that filing of a complaint does not automatically mean that a candidate is disqualified in an election.

Acop is running for congressman in the second legislative district of Antipolo, where a special election will be conducted on March 14 to fill the vacancy left by his father, who died in December.

The public has been advised to verify information from official sources, warning that spreading false information constitutes an election offense as provided under the Omnibus Election Code.