PFP files raps vs South Cotabato gov

MANILA, Philippines — South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. and two others were accused by the Partido Federal ng Filipinas (PFP), to which Tamayo belongs, of falsifying public documents and violating the cybercrime law.

On July 5, PFP national chairman Abubakar Mangelen filed charges of violating Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code as well as Chapter 11, Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Law, against Tamayo, PFP member Thompson Lantion as well as lawyer George Briones before the Manila prosecutor’s office.

President Marcos ran and won in the 2022 presidential race under the banner of the PFP.

Mangelen accused Tamayo, Lantion and Briones of using falsified constitution and bylaws (CBL) of the PFP in Commission on Elections (Comelec) proceedings in 2022 and 2024.

He also alleged that his e-signature was used without his authorization.

Mangelen, who was elected PFP national chairman on April 21, 2018 during the party’s inception, alleged that he discovered earlier this year that a falsified CBL was presented by the respondents in the party’s petition for accreditation as one of the 10 major political parties in the 2022 elections before the Comelec.

The documents made it appear that a national assembly took place to amend the original CBL, according to Mangelen. The amendment extended the term of the PFP’s national officers from two years to three years and allowed officers to continue in a holdover capacity.

Mangelen insisted that he neither signed nor participated in creating the falsified 2022 CBL.

He also said Tamayo, Lantion and Briones used the falsified CBL in a case filed before the Comelec against them by several PFP officers, including Leandro Verceles Jr. and Antonio Rodriguez Jr.

Mangelen submitted evidence to support his claims, including affidavits from other party members and officers who stated that no national assembly ever took place to amend the original CBL.

On July 8, PFP members Assam Ulangkaya and Alexander Agustin filed similar charges against Tamayo, Lantion and Briones before the Manila prosecutor’s office.

Ulangkaya and Agustin alleged that the respondents’ motive for falsifying the CBL was to extend their stay in power and continue their authority beyond their original term limits.