The Duterte Youth partylist, which earned the second most partylist votes in the 2025 midterm elections, criticized the Commission on Elections (Comelec), for stalling their proclamation over “hao-shao” charges.
In a press conference in Quezon City, Duterte Youth Chairman Ronald Cardema called out the election commission, saying that there was an “unequal treatment,” since they are not just the only partylist with pending charges.
“Their cases are more serious because they were named, while the charges against us are baseless. So why do they have proclamations, and we don’t?”
At least two cases were filed against the partylist, including a 2019 case, where Cardema’s age was flagged, as it is over the 30-year-old age limit for youth sector representatives.
Days before the election, various student leaders from the University of the Philippines and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines filed a complaint, in which they claimed that Cardema violated an election rule in which candidates are barred from declaring critics as terrorists.
“The group that filed the case against us, Kabataan Partylist, also has a pending case filed by the Republic of the Philippines, which cites their slain members as NPAs — so why were they proclaimed, and why is a baseless case against us being treated more seriously than one filed by the Republic itself?,” Cardema continued, alleging that the Comelec is just choosing who to declare as winners.
Last Tuesday, Cardema represented Duterte Youth as they filed a petition of certiorari seeking a temporary restraining order before the Supreme Court against the Comelec National Board of Election Canvassers for postponing their proclamation.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that they are aiming to resolve cases involving Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Partylist and Duterte Youth Partylist.
Despite the dismissal of the disqualification of the BH partylist, Garcia said that there is no date on its proclamation yet.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, who represents the embattled partylist, said that they are hoping to receive the mandatory injunction from the high court before 30 June.
“They should resolve it—if the Comelec withholds the declaration after 30 June, that would be a serious violation of duty.”