Editor’s Note: This fact check was originally published on election day, May 12, 2025. The couple actually ran in the election. Ramil Hernandez won as congressman of the second district of Laguna while Ruth lost in her bid as governor of the province.
A Reel on Facebook (FB) is claiming that Laguna husband-and-wife political tandem Ruth and Ramil Hernandez were disqualified to run for governor and congressman of the province. This is not true, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
On May 10, two days before the midterm polls, an FB page published a short video with the caption:
“FACT CHECK MUNA TAYO! KONPIRMADO (sic) NA! RUTH AT RAMIL HERNANDEZ DISQUALIFIED – TIGNAN ANG DOKUMENTO NA INILABAS NG COMELEC. Huwag nyo na iboto dahil hindi mabibilang ang inyong boto. Mahalaga ang inyong boto, kaya wag sayangin.
(Let’s fact check first. It’s confirmed! Ruth and Ramil Hernandez are disqualified – look at the documents released by Comelec. Don’t vote for them because it will not be counted. Your votes are important, don’t waste it.)”
The video showed several screenshots showing an alleged Comelec resolution stating that the couple has been disqualified for engaging in vote buying.
The Comelec has denied the legitimacy of the document. The Commission warned the public that spreading such false information is considered an electoral offense according to the Omnibus Election Code.
“Documents or posts currently circulating online saying that Ramil Laurel Hernandez [and] Ruth Mariano Hernandez have been disqualified as candidates for the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections are fake news,” it wrote in a May 11 FB post.
The Comelec further reiterated that only the Commission has the power to make decisions on any cases related to elections.
“Do not believe any information on disqualification cases of candidates if it did not come from the official page of Comelec,” it added.
The short video was published by FB page Laguna Unlocked, which was deleted after the polls closed.
