Comelec exec to Cardema camp: Refrain from granting media interviews

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Ronald Cardema as well as the petitioners questioning his application for substitution as the first nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list should refrain from granting media interviews, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

“Refrain from giving interviews since he [Cardema] is already sub judice,” Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said during the first hearing of the case.

Sub judice or under judgment bans parties in a case from making public statements regarding a pending case to arouse public opinion. A violation of this rule is punishable under Rule 71 of the Rules of Court.

The Comelec commissioner noted that the former NYC chairman had released public statements to the media about the substitution case without legal assistance from a lawyer.

“Nevertheless, he [Cardema] took a risk by filing his answer without [the] assistance of his counsel,” Guanzon said.

Guanzon also warned the petitioners about the sub judice rule during the hearing.

The three petitioners who represent the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines, the National Union of Students of the Philippines, and Youth Act Against Tyranny questioned the substitution bid of Cardema.

Cardema and his lawyer George Garcia were present during the hearing at the Comelec session hall.

The 34-year-old Cardema is three years too old to represent the sector. Under the Party-List System Act, the nominee of the youth sector must not be older than 30 years old. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

READ: Comelec hears Cardema case

READ: Lawyer: Cardema represents ‘young professionals’ not youth sector