Petition filed vs Cardema’s party-list nomination

Millennials PH, together with election lawyers Sixto Brilliantes and Emil Marañon, files a petition at Comelec to cancel the nomination of Ronald Cardema for Duterte Youth due to age issues. PHOTO by Faye Orellana / INQUIRER.net

Updated (3:49 p.m.)

MANILA, Philippines – The controversy surrounding Ronald Cardema’s nomination as Duterte Youth party-list representative transcends political boundaries and is an issue of right and wrong, said Aunell Angcos of Millennial PH, which on Monday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel Cardema’s nomination.

Angcos stressed that Comelec officials should prove that they are on the side of truth when it comes to releasing decisions.

“Ang issue na ito ay hindi yung typical issue ng dilawan at DDS eh. It’s an issue of right and wrong. Kaya pati both sides, dilawan man or DDS or kung ano man, alam na mali ito. Very glaring na mali ito,” Angcos said.

(This is not an issue of DDS versus the dilawan.  It’s about right and wrong. Both sides, know that this is wrong.  It’s very glaring.)

DDS refers to the supporters of the current administration, while “dilawan” refers to supporters of the previous administration.

The Comelec earlier approved Cardema’s application to substitute as a nominee of  Duterte Youth party-list group.

Critics said Cardema exceeded the age limit for a youth party representative.

Under the party-list law, youth sector representatives must only be aged 24 to 30.

Cardema is 34.

During an en banc hearing on Cardema’s substitution bid, Cardema’s lawyer argued that his client represents young professionals, and not the youth sector in particular.

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

Angcos said that there was a “material misrepresentation” in the case of Cardema.

According to him, the word “young professionals” only appeared once in the registration of Duterte Youth.

“The rest of the content walang binanggit miski ni-isang young professional or professional. So makikita na may material na misrepresentation talaga na nangyare,” Angcos said.

(The rest of the content did not mention “young professional” or “professional.” It is clear that there is material misrepresentation.)

“Also ang representation talaga ng Duterte Youth batay sa mga representations nila sa media ay sila ay youth sectors, at walang young professionals,” he added.

(Also, the representation of Duterte Youth in the media is the youth sector, not young professionals.)

The petition filed by Millennials PH was backed by veteran election lawyers such as former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes, Emil Marañon, and Romulo Macalintal.

Brilliantes said it is clear that Cardema’s age exceeded the limit for youth representatives.

“Maliwanag na hindi bata yung respondent eh, at kapag sinabi nating bata, it has to be below 30 (It is evident that the respondent is not young. When we say youth, it should be someone below 30),” he said. /gsg