Duterte Youth Partylist challenges Comelec before Supreme Court over delayed proclamation

MANILA — The Duterte Youth Partylist, one of the top-performing groups in the 2025 midterm elections, has elevated its dispute with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to the Supreme Court following the poll body’s decision to suspend its proclamation.

On Tuesday, the group filed a petition before the high court in Manila, accusing the Comelec of grave abuse of discretion for its refusal to proclaim Duterte Youth, which placed second among 54 newly elected party-list groups in the May 12 elections.

The party’s nominees include incumbent Representative Drixie Mae Cardema, a 28-year-old military reservist from the University of the Philippines and vice chairperson of the House Committee on National Defense and Security. She is joined by incoming Representatives Berlin Lingwa, 26, a graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy, and Ron Bawalan, 26, from the Philippine Military Academy.

Duterte Youth claimed that despite securing over 2.3 million votes, its proclamation was deliberately stalled by Comelec due to “serious allegations” linked to a 2019 case filed by Kabataan Partylist.

“If the allegations of Kabataan Party-List were really “very serious” in 2019, why did Comelec allow Duterte Youth Party-List to 1. Assume in Congress after the 2019 elections, 2. Be elected again and assume in Congress after the 2022 elections and be elected again in the 2025 elections wherein millions of Filipino Voters elected Duterte Youth Party-List to be their Representatives in Congress,” Party chairman Ronald Cardema said.

He added that it is not the fault of the Partylist if the Comelec did not dismiss the “hao shiao” or fake case after its last hearing in 2019, and that the commission is now trying to subvert the votes of the Filipino People by delaying its proclamation that was supposed to happen on Monday.

“Sinagot na namin lahat yan sa Comelec noong 2019, mga mababaw na issue na wala naman katotohanan. Pinaupo na kami noon after manalo sa 2019 elections, pinaupo na kami after manalo sa 2022 elections, at ngayon na milyon-milyong Pilipino ang bumoto samin, ngayon mismong araw ng proclamation sasabihin na ihold muna dahil serious yung allegation ng Kabataan Party-List noong 2019,” Cardema said.

Among the allegations raised by Kabataan, an alleged front of the New People’s Army, include allegations that the partylist is not registered in the Comelec, the partylist is vote-buying, and that the partylist is promoting violence.

Duterte Youth stressed on the first allegation, it is impossible for the partylist to be non-registered as the Comelec will not allow a non-registered entity to join in the elections.

It also said that it is not conducting vote buying, but it will not corrupt a single peso and will devote its funds to the people, and that it will help the AFP and PNP in neutralizing terrorist NPA groups and its allies.

“Ang dami-daming vote-buyers na pulitiko, ang dami-daming plunderers na pulitiko, kung sino pa yung kaisa-isang kandidato na hindi talaga bumibili ng boto at hindi nangungurakot ng pondo, kaisa-isa pang nagbabalik sa Kongreso ng Death Penalty for Plunderers, Heinous Criminals, at NPA Terrorists, kami pa talaga ang i-hohold, hindi yung mga kurakot at konektado sa mga terorista, yan ang mga tunay na serious cases na dapat na panghold sa proclamation,” Cardema said.

Cardema warned that if the partylist is not given a chance to serve in Congress, he will reveal to the Filipino People what happens behind closed doors in the House of Representatives and Comelec on how they allegedly make millions on decisions, party-list accreditations, congressional projects and funds.

“Wala kaming pakialam dyan sa mga pamemera niyo sa gobyerno dahil hindi kami kasali dyan at busy kami sa pakikipaglaban sa mga kalaban ng gobyerno pero pag kami na ibinoto ng milyon-milyong Pilipino ay tatarantaduhin ninyo, ikekwento namin lahat sa taumbayan ang mga kalookohan ninyo sa gobyernong ito,” Cardema said.

President Duterte with Duterte Youth Party-List Leaders: L-R: Cong. Berlin Lingwa from PNPA, Cong. Drixie Cardema from UP, Chairman Ronald Cardema, PRRD, former Cong. Marie Cardema, & Cong. Ron Bawalan from PMA.