The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has dismissed the election protest filed by former Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia against incumbent Governor Juliette Uy.

In an eight-page order issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, the poll body’s First Division dismissed Unabia’s election protest for failing to prove sufficiently that the results of the 2025 elections in the province were besieged by fraud or anomalies.

COMELEC said there was no evidence of election irregularities that would justify the opening of ballot boxes and the conduct of a recount.

It can be recalled that Unabia filed an election protest seeking to annul Uy’s proclamation and, instead, declare him as elected governor.

Unabia alleged that the reporting of counting and canvassing of election results were questionable and that the valid votes for him were not counted and tallied in his favor.

He also alleged that there were numerous unexplained rejections of official ballots, non-issuance of voter’s receipts, tyranny of the electoral board, collusion with voters and watchers for Uy, and irregular and illegal procedures.

Unabia alleged further that the transmission delays and “glitches” have cast doubt on the reliability of the vote-count.

The former governor also accused Uy of buying votes.

However, Uy maintained that the election protest is insufficient in form and substance, saying it relies on speculations and general allegations and fails to meet the legal requirement for specific claims.

COMELEC

Under Section 7, Rule 6, of COMELEC Resolution No. 8804, election protests must state the protested precincts and votes of the parties in the protested precincts or, if the votes of the parties are not specified, an explanation why the votes are not specified; and detailed specification of the acts of omissions complained of showing the electoral frauds, anomalies, or irregularities in the protested precincts.

COMELEC said the requirement for a detailed specification of the acts or omissions showing alleged electoral fraud, anomalies, or irregularities in the protested precincts as required under COMELEC rule was not met.

It added that mere allegations, speculation, or suspicion of irregularities in the conduct of the elections are insufficient to satisfy the rule.

Because of this, COMELEC dismissed the election protest for failing to comply with the mandatory form and content requirements under the said rule.

Meanwhile, COMELEC referred the investigation into the alleged vote buying committed by Uy to its law department.

In a Facebook post, Uy said that the truth will always prevail no matter how it is viewed or how other may try to distort it.

She said her fight during the 2025 election was honest and transparent.

“Nidaog ako sa mata sa Dios ug sa mata sa kapin 300 thousand ka mga Misamisnon nga ni salig sa ako. Hangtod karon ania ko padayon ni barug, padayon nanerbisyo, padayon ang pag higugma sa katawhan. Bisan man adlaw2x gi daot, buhatan sa hiwi nga storya,kaminusan sa pipila. Wala ko nag patarog, wala ko na huyang.Apan mas ni dapig sa ako ang kahigayonan, mas ni dapig sa ako ang ka daghanan,” Uy said.

Unabia has yet to comment on this statement.