The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday cancelled the registration of Duterte Youth as a party-list group, citing material misrepresentation in its filings.
However, Comelec chair George Garcia said the ruling was not yet final and that the Duterte Youth could still submit a motion for reconsideration.
The Duterte Youth party-list was among three party-list groups that won three seats in the 2025 elections.
The Comelec, however, decided to suspend the proclamation of Duterte Youth due to legal issues raised against it.
The Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), proclaimed only 52 out of the 54 groups that won 63 seats in the 20th Congress last May 19.
Garcia said that while the proclamation of the Duterte Youth party-list remains pending as it is facing a disqualification case before the Comelec, the group can still be proclaimed should the Comelec en banc reverse the decision.
Duterte Youth party-list’s first nominee, Drixie Mae Suarez Cardema, was earlier asked by the Comelec to provide an explanation for her purported use of a different last name.
Drixie is the sister of Ducielle Cardema, wife of the group’s chairman, Ronald Cardema.
Drixie Mae declared her full name as Drixie Mae Suarez Cardema in her certificate of acceptance of nomination for the 2025 midterm elections.
The Duterte Youth has argued that Rep. Cardema was using a political name.
It will be recalled that progressive organizations have asked the poll body to invalidate the Duterte Youth for allegedly making significant misrepresentations when it fielded candidates who were beyond the age of 18 in 2019.
The proclamation of the Duterte Youth party-list remains pending as it is facing a disqualification case before the Comelec.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Comelec cancels Duterte Youth party-list registration.”
