The Duterte Youth Party-list questioned the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to suspend its proclamation on Monday.

According to the Comelec, which also sits as the National Board of Canvassers, it suspended the proclamation of the Duterte Youth due to "pending cases."

The Duterte Youth has had a pending case since September 2019, which stemmed from a petition filed by Reeya Beatrice Magtalas, Abigail Aleli Tan, Raainah Punzalan, and Aundell Ross Angcos.

They argued that it is "illegal and unconstitutional" for the Duterte Youth to be allowed registration without fulfilling the publication and hearing requirements, as stated in the 1987 Constitution and the Party-list System Act.

However, in a statement, the Duterte Youth argued that the Comelec committed a "grave abuse of discretion" and said it will challenge the decision before the Supreme Court.

"We already answered all that to the Comelec in 2019, [those] superficial issues that have no truth. We already won seats after winning the 2019 and the 2022 elections, and now that millions of Filipinos voted for us, on the very day of the proclamation, they are saying that they will hold the proclamation first because the allegations against us are serious," Duterte Youth Chairperson Ronald Cardema said in Filipino.

"If it is that serious, why didn't you decide immediately after our last hearing in 2019? This is definitely a grave abuse of discretion to suspend the proclamation of the party-list that was chosen by millions of voters," Cardema, who represented Duterte Youth in 2019, added.

In August 2019, the first division of the Comelec canceled Cardema's nomination as the party-list's representative. The decision was concurred by Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Marlon Casquejo.

The cancellation stemmed from Cardema's claim that he was eligible for nomination on his certificate of acceptance and nomination, which the Comelec deemed "material misrepresentation," because of the 25 to 30-year-old age requirement as set out by the Party List Law.

Duterte Youth ranked second among the 155 party-lists that ran in the midterm poll, garnering over 2.3 million votes.

The first three nominees of Duterte Youth are Ronald's wife, Drixie Mae Suarez Cardema, Berlin Baday Lingwa, and Rod Godfrey Waggawag Bawalan.

Aside from it, the poll body also suspended the proclamation of the Bagong Henerasyon Party-list.

However, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia clarified that the suspension of their proclamation would not nullify their win. He also assured that the poll body will resolve the pending cases on or before 30 June, when all proclaims winners are set to assume office.