‘We still have the ball’: Comelec asserts authority over Cardema’s switch plea

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said it still has jurisdiction over former National Youth Commission (NYC) chief Ronald Cardema’s substitution bid as Duterte Youth party-list nominee.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez issued the statement after 1Pacman party-list Rep. Mikee Romero said they have already “accepted the membership” of Cardema, whom he recognized as a “congressman.”

READ: House party-list coalition accepts Cardema as member

A day before the May 13 midterm elections, Cardema filed a petition for substitution to be the first nominee of Duterte Youth party-list. He wants to take the place of her wife, Ducielle Marie Suarez Cardema, who – along with four other nominees – withdrew from their nomination. The Comelec has yet to issue a decision on Cardema’s plea.

Duterte Youth, meanwhile, has been among the winners in this year’s party-list race, as proclaimed by Comelec.

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

“We still have the ball basically kasi ang pinagtatalunan dito ay whether or not the substitution has been validly achieved,” Jimenez said in a press briefing.

Jimenez explained that it was the party-list groups that were proclaimed last Wednesday and not their nominees.

The poll body official also noted that at least 10 oppositions against Cardema’s last-minute substitution bid have been filed before the Comelec.

READ: Jimenez: 10 petitions filed vs Cardema’s bid to become partylist nominee

(Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)

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