MANILA, Philippines — Former National Youth Commissioner (NYC) and Duterte Youth party-list chair Ronald Cardema said he was “just excited” when he claimed in his Facebook account that he is an “incoming congressman.”
“Wala ‘yon talaga, medyo excited, gusto lang din natin dahil syempre, nag-aantay ang mga supporters natin sa Duterte Youth kung ano ang magiging resulta. Kailangan mo rin ng pampalakas sa loob nila, kaya natin nilagay ‘yon,” Cardema said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday.
“Walang basis talaga ‘yon sir, totoo, hindi natin alam talaga na magiging congressman-elect tayo,” he added.
Recently, Cardema drew flak after the Duterte Youth party-list moved for a substitution with him replacing his wife Ducielle Marie as first nominee.
He was also slammed for being presumptuous, changing his Facebook account job description to “incoming Congressman at the House of Representatives of the Philippines” even before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finalized the tally for the party-list race.
SCREENGRAB from Ronald Cardema Facebook
While there were reports that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had given its nod to Cardema’s substitution, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon clarified that the poll body has not reached any decision, saying that she has not yet signed any resolution as of Thursday night.
READ: Guanzon to oppose Cardema substitution as Duterte Youth nominee
Cardema clarified that he did not seek the help of Malacañang in resolving the issue. He also defended his decision.
“Actually wala ‘yon, wala namang coordination with Malacañang or anything, nilagay ko lang ‘yon as a private citizen na, hindi naman na ako NYC chairman,” Cardema claimed.
“Sa Pilipinas ang daming kurakot na pulitiko, sila pinapalakas nila ‘yong kalooban ng mga supporters na baliw na baliw sa kanila. Tayo wala tayong kinukurakot kahit isa, gusto natin malakas ang loob ng ating mga supporters […] ‘Yon lang ang kaisa-isa kong ginawa sir, nilagay ko lang incoming Congressman,” he added. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)