Ronald Cardema holds a news conference in Quezon City. (Photo by CONSUELO MARQUEZ / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Ronald Cardema appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte and justices of the Supreme Court (SC) to look into the alleged extortion of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon against him.
“Humihingi kami ng tulong sa Pangulo. Kapag ganitong level na literally na durog na durog na kami, baka naman pwede kami humingi ng tulong sa Pangulo,” Cardema said during a press conference in Quezon City on Saturday.
[We are asking the President for hep. At this level that we are literally crushed, maybe we can ask help from the President.]
“Nananawagan kami sa Supreme Court sa mga justices, nananawagan kami sa Pangulo, hindi pa kami umuupo pero inaaway kami araw-araw ni Commissioner Guanzon,” he added.
[We are calling on the Supreme Court justices, we are calling on the President, we are not sitting down, but Commissioner Guazon is fighting us every day.]
Earlier, Cardema alleged that Guanzon hired an emissary to ask him for favors in exchange for the approval of the accreditation of Duterte Youth Party-list in time for the May 2019 polls.
READ: Cardema names Guanzon in extort try
Cardema also accused Guanzon of harassing him and attacking their reputation.
“Wala na kami yung reputasyon namin dinurog durog na niya [Guanzon],” Cardema told reporters after the press conference.
[We no longer have a reputation because she crushed it.]
The former NYC chairman also said he didn’t want to have enemies, noting that his wife was already in the hospital and might face “threatened abortion.”
“Ayaw namin ng kaaway intindihin niyo ang kalagayan namin. Asawa’t anak ko hirap na. Anak namin malalaglag na. Threatened abortion na ilalagay sa papel,” Cardema said.
[We don’t want to fight anyone. Understand our situtation. My wife and child are suffering. Our child will be aborted. Threatened abortion is what they would put on paper.]
/atm