Akbayan Youth to Comelec: ‘How is Cardema eligible to represent youth sector?’

Akbayan Youth stages protest against PNP’s Tambay vagrancy drive. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan Youth has questioned before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the eligibility of former National Youth Commission (NYC) chair Ronald Cardema to represent the youth sector.

In a letter filed Thursday, Akbayan cited that the age of a nominee to represent the youth sector should not be more than 30 years old on Election Day.

“How is Cardema eligible to represent the youth sector? Section 9 of the Party-list System Act states that a nominee of the youth sector should not be more than 30 years old,” read the letter.

Akbayan said that based on Cardema’s Facebook account details, the former NYC head’s date of birth is April 13, 1986, making him 33 years old on May 13, 2019, the date of the midterm polls.

Akbayan also questioned Comelec’s acceptance of Cardema’s petition for substitution beyond office hours. Cardema sought to substitute for his wife, Ducielle Marie Suarez Cardema, as first nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list, which five nominees have reportedly withdrawn.

“According to news reports, Comelec director Frances Arabe said Cardema’s plea was received on May 12, Sunday at 5:30 in the afternoon, clearly beyond office hours,” the group said.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has clarified that the Comelec en banc has yet to decide on Cardema’s substitution plea.

READ: Guanzon to oppose Cardema substitution as Duterte nominee

READ: Don’t celebrate just yet, Comelec official tells Cardema

Cardema, nevertheless, attended the proclamation of winning party-list organizations at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Wednesday night.

Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, proclaimed Duterte Youth party-list won one seat at the House of Representatives.

READ: 61 party-list reps proclaimed; ACT-CIS, Bayan Muna get 3 seats each

(Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)

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