Manila, Philippines — Atty. Randolph Parcasio, Secretary-General of the Mahardika Party and spokesperson for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), has issued a public statement condemning what he described as “false and misleading” reporting by Rappler. The news outlet published an article, attributed to journalist Ferdinand Cabrera, alleging that the children of MNLF Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari are seeking seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament as nominees for the upcoming elections.
Parcasio firmly refuted the claims, calling the report baseless and a serious misrepresentation of facts. He clarified that Ustadz Abdulkarim Tan Misuari, MNLF Vice Chairman and eldest son of Prof. Misuari, made a public announcement during the Mahardika Party convention stating that none of the Misuari siblings would be pursuing nominations. The decision was attributed to the exclusion of Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following a Supreme Court ruling.
“This statement was made publicly and is verifiable,” Parcasio emphasized, denouncing the report as irresponsible and damaging to the MNLF’s reputation. He further demanded a full retraction of the article and an apology from both Rappler and Cabrera, stressing the importance of journalistic ethics in maintaining public trust.
The MNLF spokesperson urged Rappler and other media outlets to verify information and adhere to high standards of accuracy and fairness, particularly in coverage of the upcoming BARMM parliamentary elections. Parcasio’s statement highlights the MNLF’s commitment to transparency and fairness in reporting on issues related to the Bangsamoro region and its governance.
