Duterte Youth challenges Comelec ‘grave abuse of discretion’ in proclamation suspension

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Duterte Youth party-list raised to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 20, what it called grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) when it suspended the group’s proclamation over poll violations.

Party-list chairman Ronald Cardema filed a review of the decision and also asked for a temporary restraining order on it.

“Discretion na lang pala ng Comelec ngayon kung kailan sila magpoproklama ng duly-elected winners sa eleksyon,” Cardema said in a chance interview after the filing.

[Translation: It seems that it is the Comelec’s discretion when it wants to proclaim the duly elected winners of the elections.]

Cardema questioned how the party-list was proclaimed in 2019 and 2022 despite a pending case.

“Bakit ngayon kung kailan tayo ang nasa taas, tayo ay magkakaroon ng three seats? Bakit biglang sasabihin very serious ‘yung mga kaso na ‘yun?” he asked, noting that the last hearing was set in 2019.

[Translation: Why would they suspend the proclamation when we ranked high, when we will be allocated three seats? Why would they suddenly say the cases were very serious?]

In 2019, the Kabataan party-list filed a case against the Duterte Youth over allegations of non-registration with the Comelec, vote buying, and promoting violence, which the group had addressed.

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the group’s filing was expected.

“It is a remedy available to it,” he told NewsWatch Plus in a message.

The Duterte Youth placed second in the party-list race. Cardema said the group was informed that it will not be proclaimed just hours before the program on Monday.

Aside from Duterte Youth, the proclamation of the Bagong Henerasyon Party-list was also suspended.