Call to Suspend Duterte Youth Party-list Proclamation
Petitioners seeking to cancel the Duterte Youth party-list’s registration have once again urged authorities to suspend the party-list’s proclamation until their case is resolved. Their original petition, filed in 2019, argues that the Duterte Youth’s registration is void ab initio, meaning it was invalid from the start. They claim the party-list failed to meet essential requirements for publication and public hearings.
This petition highlights concerns about the legitimacy of Duterte Youth’s participation in elections. The issue revolves around whether the party-list complied with legal processes necessary for registration, a key point raised by the petitioners.
Background and Current Developments
Ducielle Cardema served as Duterte Youth’s representative in 2020, later succeeded by Drixie Mae Cardema after the party-list secured another win in 2022. Despite this, the petitioners have continued to press for a resolution. In March, they asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to decide on their petition, emphasizing that the case has lingered unresolved for over five years.
According to their legal counsel, Emil Marañon III, the petitioners have formally requested the suspension of the Duterte Youth party-list’s proclamation following the recent elections. He pointed out that official Comelec records suggest the Duterte Youth party-list is not even a registered group, which means it should not have been allowed to run.
Pending Cases Affecting Party-list Proclamations
The Commission on Elections is set to proclaim the winning party-lists soon. Duterte Youth received the second highest number of votes in the party-list race, right after Akbayan, and is expected to send three representatives to the House. However, the Comelec chairman recently announced that two winning party-list groups will not be proclaimed due to pending cases. While he did not disclose their names, these groups reportedly won three and one seats, respectively.
This development raises questions about the Duterte Youth party-list’s status amidst ongoing legal challenges. It also highlights the Comelec’s cautious stance on proclaiming party-lists with unresolved issues.
Looking Ahead
As the situation unfolds, the future of the Duterte Youth party-list remains uncertain. The petitioners’ call for suspension reflects broader concerns about election integrity and compliance with legal standards. Observers and community leaders emphasize the importance of resolving such cases promptly to uphold the credibility of the party-list system.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that the petitioners will continue to monitor the case closely and pursue all available legal remedies until a final decision is reached.
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