COMELEC Warns Against Fake News, Affirms November 2, 2026 Election Schedule

Photo Courtesy of COMELEC / Facebook

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued an official advisory warning the public against false "breaking news" reports circulating on social media claiming that the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) have been postponed or altered.

The poll body categorically denied the rumors, asserting that the twin village and youth council elections will strictly proceed on November 2, 2026, in accordance with Republic Act No. 12232. The law, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., permanently established the next regular automated sync of local grassroots voting for the first Monday of November 2026.

Criminal Liabilities for Disinformation

Poll officials stressed that creating, amplifying, or distributing fabricated and malicious election schedules intended to confuse voters constitutes a direct election offense. Under Section 261(z)(11) of the Omnibus Election Code, individual violators face steep criminal penalties:

Imprisonment ranging from one to six years without the option of probation.; Perpetual disqualification from ever holding public office.; and Deprivation of the right to vote in any Philippine election.

COMELEC's specialized anti-disinformation unit, Task Force KKK sa Halalan, has aggressively expanded its surveillance on major social media platforms to identify and prosecute accounts spearheading the viral fake news.

Call for Public Vigilance

"We urge the public to be extremely cautious when sharing or believing unverified data circulating online," said regional election directors in corresponding statements. COMELEC advised citizens to bypass third-party social media cards and cross-verify all timeline changes directly through the official and verified communication portals of the Commission on Elections.

Official preparations, including Election Registration Board (ERB) hearings to clean the voter registries and finalize lists, remain in full effect nationwide.