The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has moved to cancel the registration of the Duterte Youth Party-list, a group closely associated with former President Rodrigo Duterte. The decision, announced Wednesday, follows a series of controversies and allegations involving the party’s nominees and naming practices.
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed the ruling but emphasized that it is not yet final. The Duterte Youth still has five days to file a motion for reconsideration before the decision can be considered executory. The case may ultimately be elevated to the Comelec en banc for final resolution.
The cancellation stems from longstanding issues raised by progressive groups, who accused the party-list of material misrepresentation during the 2019 elections. Specifically, they claimed the group nominated individuals who were over the age limit required by law for youth sector representatives. Party-list groups representing the youth must nominate individuals between the ages of 25 and 30 on election day.
In addition to the age-related allegations, the Duterte Youth also came under scrutiny over questions surrounding the identity of its current representative, Drixie Mae Suarez Cardema. Although publicly known as “Cardema,” documents reportedly show her actual family name as Suarez. She is the sister of Ducielle Cardema, who previously served as the party’s representative and is the wife of the group’s chairman, Ronald Cardema.
In its defense, the Duterte Youth asserted that Drixie Mae’s use of “Cardema” was a political name and not intended to mislead the public or the poll body. The group has yet to issue a formal statement in response to the Second Division’s ruling.
This latest development is the most serious challenge yet to the Duterte Youth’s legitimacy and presence in Congress. Depending on the outcome of any appeal, the decision could mark a significant shift in the party-list landscape leading into the next national elections.