Comelec Cancels Duterte Youth Party-List Registration

The Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the cancellation of the registration of Duterte Youth party-list, casting uncertainty over its future representation in Congress. The decision was handed down in a 2-1 vote by the division.

Comelec Chair George Garcia clarified that the ruling is not yet final and executory. Duterte Youth may still file a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec en banc within five days from receipt of the decision.

The case stemmed from a petition filed in 2019 challenging the eligibility of Duterte Youth to participate in the party-list elections. Petitioners argued that the group did not genuinely represent the youth sector and failed to comply with essential procedural requirements such as publication and public hearing, which are mandatory under election laws for the accreditation of party-list organizations.

In its ruling, the Comelec emphasized the importance of transparency and compliance with the law, particularly regarding party-list registration.

“The public cannot be expected to be aware of party-list organizations who seek to be registered if the petitions remain with the annals of the Commission. Without compliance to these requisites, the electorate are deprived of the right to information on matters of public concern, ultimately undermining the integrity of the elections,” the decision read.

The Second Division also took into consideration the previous disqualification of Ronald Cardema, the original nominee of Duterte Youth, who was found to be over the age limit for youth sector representation. The poll body stressed that the decision to nominate Cardema was not his alone but a deliberate move by the party-list group itself.

Cardema’s nomination was widely criticized in 2019, triggering a legal battle that placed Duterte Youth’s legitimacy under public scrutiny. Comelec later ruled that Cardema was ineligible, citing that the youth sector requires nominees to be between 25 and 30 years old, while Cardema was already 34 at the time of nomination.

Despite these controversies, Duterte Youth still managed to secure 2.3 million votes in the 2019 midterm elections, earning them a potential three seats in the House of Representatives. However, with the latest Comelec decision, those seats are now in jeopardy.

If the ruling is upheld by the Comelec en banc, Duterte Youth could lose its congressional representation entirely. The case may also eventually be elevated to the Supreme Court, should the party-list seek further legal remedies.

The Duterte Youth party-list has been closely associated with pro-administration policies and was seen by critics as an extension of the Duterte government’s influence in Congress through the party-list system.

This latest development highlights ongoing debates surrounding the integrity of the party-list system, with various groups calling for reforms to ensure that organizations genuinely represent marginalized sectors, as originally intended by the law.

As of now, Duterte Youth has yet to issue an official statement regarding the decision or its next legal steps.

The Comelec ruling underscores the commission’s stance on upholding election integrity by ensuring that all party-list organizations strictly adhere to the law’s requirements.