Editor’s Note: This fact check was originally published on election day, May 12, 2025. Janice Degamo was proclaimed as representative of Negros Oriental’s Third District on May 13.
A Reel on Facebook (FB) is spreading a fabricated resolution made to look like it came from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), announcing that Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo has been disqualified from running as a district representative of Negros Oriental.
The Reel was published by an FB page on May 11, captioned:
“Janice Degamo opisyal na nga gi disqualified og gi cancel sa Comelec ang iyang kandidasiya isip kongresista
(Janice Degamo has been officially disqualified and the Comelec canceled her candidacy for congresswoman).”
Citing a certain “Regional News” as source, the video further claimed that Degamo was disqualified by the polling body for failing to fulfill the one-year residency requirement to run as district representative.
In an FB post the same day, the Comelec said the resolution is fake and that Degamo remains on the official ballot.
“The circulating document of a resolution from the Comelec Second Division, which stated that Janice V. Degamo has been disqualified, is fake news,” said the polling body in Filipino.
The Commission further said any cancellation of certificates of candidacies shall go through due process and its results announced on the Comelec’s official social media pages or media advisories.
A day after the May 12 polls, the Comelec proclaimed Degamo as winner, beating the incumbent Arnie Teves.
FB page Katawhan sa Dumaguete (created on Nov. 4, 2010) published the video with the false claim, garnering over 1,000 reactions, 670 shares and 133,000 views.
