Ex-poll chair Brillantes wants Duterte Youth registration canceled

Former Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes on Tuesday said that he would seek the cancellation of the Duterte Youth party-list’s registration as it continues to make a mockery of election laws and also tarnishes the name of the President.

“Ang susunod namin na gagawin dito ay ipapa-cancel na namin yung registration ng Duterte Youth. Nakakahiya ito eh, ginagamit pa nila yung pangalan ng Presidente, tapos magpapaikot-ikot sila ng batas?” Brillantes said in a chance interview.

“So ang sagot ko lang, huwag naman masyadong makapal ang mukha nitong mga taong ito. Tama na, tama na. It’s about time to stop. Don’t make a mockery of the law, don’t make a mockery of everything on election law,” he added.

Brillantes issued the statement after Duterte Youth again submitted Roland Cardema’s name as its first nominee despite being disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

READ: Duterte Youth nominates Cardema anew despite DQ

Citing the alleged “mockery” being given by the Duterte Youth to the commission, Brillantes gave an advice to the party-list on where they should file documents.

“Ano ba yan, pina-iikot-ikot niyo lang ito, itong batas ginagawa niyong merry-go-round. Kung merry-go-round ang gusto niyo, doon kayo magfile sa Disneyland,” he said.

Aside from the re-nomination bid of Cardema, Brillantes also slammed the move of Duterte Youth party-list to include Cardema’s wife, Ducielle Cardema, as its second nominee.

It could be noted that Ducielle was the first nominee of Duterte Youth party-list before Ronald made a last-minute substitution on May 12, or a day before the midterm elections.

“Hindi na legality ito eh, hindi na basta legality. Ang tingin ko dito may konti ng immorality kasi pina-iikot-ikot na nila yung batas. They are making a mockery of the election process,” he said.

Brillantes, together with Aunell Angcos, who is a representative of the youth group Millennial PH, filed an opposition paper at the Comelec rejecting the refiling of nomination of the Duterte Youth.

Angcos, who was also one of those opposing Cardema’s nomination bid before, then gave an advice to the latter.

“Mr. Cardema hindi na po kayo bata para maglaro. Huwag niyo na po paglaruan ang batas,” he said. /jpv