COTABATO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered former chairman Atty. Sheriff M. Abas to explain within 24 hours an alleged vote-buying incident involving campaign material bearing his name, as the commission intensified its monitoring of possible election offenses ahead of the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.
Abas, who is now running for district representative in the 1st District of Cotabato City, was served a Show Cause Order dated September 12, 2026 by the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay.
The order stemmed from a Facebook post attributed to Zaira Mae M. Baraguir that alleged the occurrence of what was described as “advance vote-buying” and referred to a supposed distribution of P3,000 to voters.
The post was accompanied by a photograph showing a sample ballot bearing the words “VOTE #1 SA BALOTA ATTY. SHERIFF ABAS” with three P1,000 bills placed alongside or on top of the campaign material.
The Comelec committee said the material presented a possible violation of the provisions on vote-buying under Section 261(a)(1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, or the Omnibus Election Code, in relation to Section 26 of Comelec Resolution No. 11104.
Under the cited Comelec rules, the possession or delivery of money or anything of value together with sample ballots or other campaign materials in favor of or against a candidate may be presumed to constitute vote-buying or vote-selling when accompanied by other corroborative evidence.
The Show Cause Order specifically directed Abas to explain why an election offense complaint and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.
He was given a non-extendible period of 24 hours from receipt of the order to submit his written answer or explanation to the Committee on Kontra Bigay.
The Comelec instructed Abas to submit his response electronically and to subsequently transmit the original copy through the fastest available means to the Regional Committee on Kontra Bigay at the Comelec Office inside the Bangsamoro Government Center in Rosary Heights 7, Cotabato City.
The committee also warned that failure to comply with the order would be considered a waiver of his right to be heard and could lead to the filing of appropriate cases.
Abas denies allegation, calls report “fake news”
Abas has strongly denied the allegation through a social media post, describing the circulating report as an attempt at political or personal vilification.
“There is no place for fake news and vilification in elections,” Abas said in his statement.
He also called on the public to scrutinize the source of information and verify allegations through proper channels rather than relying on unverified material circulated online.
According to Abas, complaints involving candidates should be submitted to the Comelec and addressed through the appropriate legal process.
“Check the source. Verify the information. Do not spread unconfirmed news. In elections, let truth and respect prevail,” he said.
The allegation contained in the Facebook post has not, by itself, established that Abas personally distributed money to voters. The Comelec’s action at this stage is a show-cause proceeding, giving the candidate an opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the material before the commission determines whether further proceedings are warranted.
A local media outlet, Radyo Bida, was also reported to be seeking a statement from Abas regarding the Comelec order.
Election watchdog action comes as Comelec pursues other BARMM cases
The action involving Abas comes as the Comelec continues to enforce election rules and resolve special proceedings in connection with the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections.
In an update issued September 13, 2026, the commission announced the implementation of a writ of execution following the denial of due course to and/or cancellation of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of Anwar Salipada Alamada, a candidate for district representative in the 5th District of Maguindanao del Sur.
The Comelec said no restraining order or injunctive writ had been issued by the Supreme Court in relation to the matter.
As a result, the commission ordered that votes cast for Alamada in the 5th District of Maguindanao del Sur be treated as stray votes and excluded from the canvass for the district representative position.
The Comelec likewise directed that no proclamation be made for Alamada.
The case is separate from the vote-buying allegation involving Abas, but both developments underscore the commission’s continuing exercise of its authority over candidates and electoral processes as the September 14 parliamentary polls approach.
Moro Ako Party registration cancelled
The Comelec En Banc also issued an Order and Writ of Execution concerning the registration of the Moro Ako Party as a Regional Parliamentary Political Party (RPPP).
The action follows a 4 August 2026 resolution granting a petition to cancel the party’s registration and accreditation for purposes of the 2026 BARMM Parliamentary Elections.
The commission ordered the cancellation of Moro Ako Party’s registration and accreditation as an RPPP, following the petition filed by Aladin A. Abdul against the party, which was represented by its president, Atty. Najeeb L. Taib.
The September 13 writ directed the Comelec Law Department, Political Finance and Affairs Department, Education and Information Department, and the Provincial Election Supervisor of Maguindanao del Norte to implement the decision and take appropriate action.
The Comelec En Banc order was signed by Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and Commissioners Aimee V. Ferolino, Rey E. Bulay, Ernesto Ferdinand P. Maceda Jr., Maria Norina S. Tangaro-Casingal, Nelson J. Celis, and Nol R. Pipo.
High-stakes final stretch before historic parliamentary vote
The developments come only a day before voters in the BARMM are scheduled to participate in the region’s first parliamentary elections, placing candidates and political organizations under heightened scrutiny.
The Comelec’s Kontra Bigay mechanism is specifically designed to address allegations involving the giving, offering, promising, or receiving of money or anything of value intended to influence voters.
For Abas, the immediate issue is now the explanation required by the September 12 Show Cause Order.
Whether the photograph and accompanying social media allegations will ultimately result in a formal election offense case or a disqualification proceeding will depend on the Comelec’s evaluation of Abas’ response and the evidence available to the commission.
Until such proceedings are resolved, the allegation remains an allegation.
The Comelec’s order, however, makes clear that the commission is treating the reported combination of money and campaign material bearing a candidate’s name as sufficiently serious to warrant an official explanation under the election rules.
With the BARMM parliamentary elections set for September 14, 2026, the case adds another layer of scrutiny to an already closely watched electoral process in the Bangsamoro region.