Duterte Youth Requests Deferment of Comelec Commissioners’ Appointment
Ronald Cardema, chairman of the Duterte Youth Party-list, has formally requested the deferment of the appointment of two ad interim Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners. This move comes after the poll body suspended the party-list’s proclamation as a winner in the 2025 midterm elections. Cardema sent letters to several senators allied with Duterte, urging them to withhold confirmation of Commissioners Noli Pipo and Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal.
He argued that these two commissioners, along with others who formed the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), suspended the party-list’s confirmation “with no legal basis.” According to Cardema, their decision casts doubt on how they would act if their appointments were confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Concerns Over Commissioners’ Actions and Appointment Status
The letters were delivered to the offices of Senators Cynthia Villar, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and Christopher “Bong” Go, all members of the CA responsible for approving presidential appointments. Cardema warned that the commissioners’ act of delaying the proclamation of a candidate with a strong mandate “gives the CA a glimpse on what these commissioners will do if they are confirmed.”
Unlike the status of Comelec Chairman George Garcia and four other commissioners, who can only be removed through impeachment, the appointments of Pipo and Tangaro-Casingal remain pending with the CA. Cardema emphasized that this allows for the possibility of revocation.
Background of the Suspension and Legal Challenges
The Comelec en banc, acting as the NBOC, did not proclaim the Duterte Youth Party-list during the May 17 ceremony, citing a grave violation of election laws. This followed a petition filed in September 2019 by a group of youth leaders seeking to nullify Duterte Youth’s registration. The petitioners argued that the party-list’s registration lacked proper hearings as mandated by the 1987 Constitution and the Party-List System Act.
The main issue raised was the party-list’s alleged misrepresentation of the youth sector. Cardema also challenged the decision to proclaim the Kabataan Party-list, which reportedly has a pending case before the poll body filed by the Office of the Solicitor General. He further questioned the proclamation of Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo, who faces citizenship concerns.
Implications for the Commission on Appointments
Cardema’s request highlights broader concerns about the integrity and impartiality of Comelec commissioners. By calling on the CA to delay confirmation, he aims to ensure that those who have acted against his party-list’s interests are carefully scrutinized before officially assuming their posts.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that this issue may influence the upcoming confirmation hearings and the overall political dynamics within the poll body. The Duterte Youth Party-list, which placed second among all winning party-lists and secured three seats in the 20th Congress, remains focused on asserting its legitimacy amid these challenges.
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