Former NYC chair Ronald Cardema. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines —The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday accepted the application for substitution as Duterte Youth party-list nominees of former National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairman Ronald Cardema.
“The substitution of Ronald Cardema as Duterte Youth nominee has been approved, with one Commissioner dissenting and one abstention,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said on Twitter.
The substitution of Ronald Cardema as Duterte Youth nominee has been approved, with one Commissioner dissenting and one abstention. #NLE2019 pic.twitter.com/EvJVD6vtgk
— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) June 4, 2019
However, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon clarified: “Re: Cardema Not the substitution but his application for substitution was given due course.”
“His substitution is not yet granted because there is a pending petition or opposition on the ground that he is over 30 yrs old and cannot be a rep of a youth sector party list,” Guanzon added.
Re:Cardema Not the substitution but his application for substitution was given due course. His substitution is not yet granted because there is a pending petition or opposition on the ground that he us over 30 yrs old and cannot be a rep of a youth sector party list.
— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) June 4, 2019
In Comelec Resolution 10529, the Comelec granted the petition Cardema, Gian Carlo Galang, Catherine R. Santos, Kerwin M. Pagaran, and Sharah Shane T. Makabali to be the substitute nominees of the Duterte Youth party-list.
It also granted the withdrawal of the Duterte Youth’s original nominees — namely Cardema’s wife Ducille Marie Suarez, Joseph M. De Guzman, Benilde C. De Guzman, Arnaldo B. Villafranca, and Elizabeth Anne F. Cardema.
The Comelec also resolved that a sixth nominee, Allan Kevin C. Payawal, had been denied as a nominee, saying that the original nominees were only five.
The resolution was signed by Chairman Sheriff Abas Commissioner and Commissioners Al Parreno, Socorro Inting, Antonio Kho Jr., and Marlon Casquejo. Guanzon dissented.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Luie Tito Guia abstained, noting in the resolution above his signature: “I abstained to be consistent with my earlier vote to deny the accreditation.”
Cardema submitted his substitution bid on May 12, a day before the scheduled midterm national and local elections.
Cardema was also seen attending the proclamation of winning party-list organizations on May 22.
Several groups slammed Cardema’s last-minute substitution bid, with Jimenez noting that 10 petitions had been filed opposing Cardema’s bid.
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(Editors: Jonathan P. Vicente and Alexander T. Magno)