Kabataan party-list looks deep into Cardema substitution before filing protest

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago on Saturday said her group will need to look deeper into the substitution of ex-National Youth Commission chair Ronald Cardema as Duterte Youth party-list first nominee before filing their protest. Photo By Katrina Hallare/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Kabataan party-list on Saturday said it will be definitely be protesting the substitution of former National Youth Commission (NYC) Ronald Cardema as first nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list.

However, according to Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, they still need to look deeper into Cardema’s substitution before lodging the protest before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Definitely magkakaroon ng pagfa-file, pero pinag-aaralan pa sa ngayon ng mabuti,” Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Jane Elago said in a media forum in Quezon City.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said 10 petitions have already been filed to protest Cardema’s last-minute substitution as the official nominee of Duterte Youth, which as a pro-administration party-list.

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

“Marami dyan (oppositors who filed) ay mga young leaders at youth groups din, from schools [and] from communities na nagsasabi na itong Duterte Youth, they registered as a youth sector [party list], but then yung mga nominees nila are beyond dun sa age prescribed by the law na dapat not more than 30 years old on the date of the elections,” Elago said.

“Yung pangalawa, [titignan natin] yung mismong act ng withdrawal just to be able to accommodate the former National Youth Commission chief.” she added. “Di man lang [siya] nag-resign kung may balak pala siya maging representante ng party list na ito.”

According to Elago, Section 9 of Republic Act 7941 or the Party List System Act says nominees of the youth sector should be at least 25 years old but not older than 30 years old on the day of the elections.

Cardema was reported to be 33 years old at the time of  the May 13 polls.

Cardema previously insisted on his Facebook post that the Duterte Youth party-list group is not covered by the age limit as it is registered with the Comelec as an advocate for the youth and professional sectors.

“Duterte Youth Party-list is registered in the Comelec to advocate for the Youth & Professionals sectors and under the latter category, there is no age limit,” Cardema said in his Facebook post. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

READ: Cardema: ‘Filipinos don’t like NPA-allied congressmen anymore’