4 days ago
Gabriela Youth to Comelec: Disqualify Duterte Youth
The Gabriela Youth on Tuesday filed a formal letter with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), seeking for the disqualification of the Duterte Youth party-list from Eleksyon 2025.
Members of the progressive group trooped in front of the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila to stage a rally for the immediate resolution of a 2019 petition seeking to nullify the registration of the Duterte Youth.
"Duterte Youth is a fraud. They do not represent the dreams, demands, or struggles of the Filipino youth. What they represent is a legacy of red-tagging, militarism, and violence—especially toward women, LGBTQ+ youth, and those who dare to speak out," said Gabriela Youth National Spokesperson Fran Reyes.
"Duterte Youth does not speak for us. They are a mouthpiece for state terror, not a voice for the youth. Their disqualification is not just legal—it is moral and urgent,' Reyes added.
Duterte Youth ranked second during the recently-concluded May 12 elections, garnering 2,338,564 votes, translating to two seats in the House of Representatives.
However, the Comelec suspended their proclamation due to pending cases filed against them.
In March, the Kabataan Tayo ang Pag-asa also filed with the poll body an urgent motion to resolve a petition seeking to cancel or to declare nullity their registration of Duterte Youth for being void ab initio, or void from the beginning for committing material representation when they fieled overaged nominees in 2019.
The case has been pending with the poll body for the past six years.
Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7491 or the Party-list System Act states that party-list representatives of the youth sector should only be aged between 25 to 30 years old. Cardema was 34 years old when he was named Duterte Youth first nominee.
In August 2019, the Comelec canceled Cardema's nomination due to misrepresentation. He was replaced by his wife, Ducielle Cardema.
GMA Integrated News has reached out to Duterte Youth for comment on the issue and will publish them as soon as they respond. —RF, GMA Integrated News
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