The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc rejected on August 29 the motion for reconsideration filed by the Duterte Youth Party-list to overturn the cancellation of its registration in the previous elections. The Comelec 2nd Division canceled the party’s registration on June 18 based on cases filed in 2019.
Youth leaders filed the petition in 2019 to cancel Duterte Youth’s registration. The disqualification case was based on (1) its lack of valid registration as a party under the Comelec’s party-list system, (2) its failure to comply with several other legal requirements for recognition as a party under the said system, and (3) acts showing that it did not represent the youth, such as the attempt in 2019 to field former National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Ronald Cardema, a staunch Duterte loyalist, who was then already 34 years old. Comelec rules state that youth representatives must be aged 30 and below.
Youth leaders and the group Kabataan, Tayo ang Pag-asa (KTAP) welcomed the decision of the Comelec en banc. “The cancellation of Duterte Youth’s registration is an important step in further exposing the electoral system’s flaws,” KTAP declared.
However, the group noted that it took the Comelec six years to release a decision on the petition. “This deprived the Filipino people of genuine government service and legislative representation,” KTAP said.
KTAP expressed hope that the cancellation of Duterte Youth’s registration will warn groups and parties that intend to exploit the party-list system for their own agenda. The group urged Comelec to tighten monitoring of such cases so that no parties like Duterte Youth can run in the coming years.
“Alongside this call, we enjoin the nation to collectively fight against the persistence of political dynasties and business interests that feed them. We must reclaim our spaces in governance and delivery of public services,” KTAP leader Brell Lacerna said.
The Kabataan Party-list also expressed support for the victory of the youth leaders against Duterte Youth. According to Kabataan Party-list representative and Assistant Minority Leader Atty. Renee Co, “This is just the beginning. All fake party-lists created by dynasties and businesses must be removed, whether pro-Duterte or Marcos.”
Meanwhile, women workers, peasants, and poor sectors’ groups called on Comelec to immediately proclaim the Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) as the replacement party for Duterte Youth. In the party-list ranking, the women’s party is among those which won enough votes to claim a seat.
“The challenge remains for us to continue protesting together until the only genuine, militant, and fighting representation of women in Congress is finally proclaimed!” Gabriela, an alliance of women’s organizations, declared.
“Women workers welcome this favorable decision… This is a victory for the people who fight for the representation of the sectors long deprived of a voice,” Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan spokesperson Jacq Ruiz said. GWP has represented the interests of women, children, and the LGBTQ+ community since it first won a seat in Congress in 2004, the group said.
Comelec officials stated that the decision is not yet final because Duterte Youth still has the right to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. Duterte Youth leaders said they will file a case with the high court on September 1.
