Cardema: ‘Filipinos don’t like NPA-allied congressmen anymore’
National Youth Commission Chairman Ronald Cardema (Photo from an RTVM video)
MANILA, Philippines — National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Ronald Cardema has hit back at detractors for carping against his petition to substitute as first nominee of Duterte Youth party-list, practically calling them a bitter lot for losing in the elections.
Cardema, who also leads Duterte Youth, even taunted poll watchdog Kontra Daya and Kabataan Party-list, including incumbent youth Rep. Sarah Elago, for the failure of certain progressive party-list organizations to secure a seat at the House of Representatives, noting “Filipinos don’t like NPA-allied congressmen anymore.”
“Elago is spreading the fake news that we filed for substitution late last May 16 (Thursday) but we already filed it even before election day,” he said in a statement posted Monday on his Facebook account.
“Duterte Youth got more votes than Kabataan because Filipinos don’t like NPA-allied congressmen anymore. Duterte allies got more votes than opposition members because the nation is confident with President Rodrigo Duterte,” he added.
https://www.facebook.com/rcardema/posts/10218156317674656?_rdc=1&_rdr
Article continues after this advertisementOn the eve of May 13, Election Day, Cardema filed a petition for substitution as party-list nominee of the Duterte Youth. He asked to replace his wife, Ducielle Marie Suarez Cardema, as first nominee of the pro-administration group.
Article continues after this advertisementIt was also revealed that all nominees of Duterte Youth have withdrawn.
READ: Cardema’s bid to be Duterte Youth sub ‘not disqualified’ – Comelec
Kontra Daya and Kabataan questioned the last minute move of Cardema.
READ: Party-list race: Comelec asked to reject Cardema as wife’s sub
Former NYC chairman Dingdong Dantes also sought for Cardema’s explanation of his motive as well as the reason behind the withdrawal of all nominees of Duterte Youth.
READ: Dingdong Dantes blasts Cardema’s ‘abuse, circumvention’ of party-list law
Elago earlier slammed Cardema, saying he could have used NYC resources in campaigning for his party-list group.
READ: Palace says Cardema deemed resigned, urges him to vacate NYC post
She then cited Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines on substitutions, which said that nominees can only be substituted in the case of death, withdrawal of nomination, and incapacity.
The lawmaker also noted that substitution by withdrawal cannot be made after the election.
https://www.facebook.com/sjielago/posts/2490745974277833?_rdc=1&_rdr
But Comelec Director Frances Arabe clarified Cardema filed the petition for substitution on May 12.
“Kontra Daya is led by Makabayan Bloc Member Danny Arao who is not a watchdog but an attack dog of the leftist party-lists towards other party-lists,” Cardema said.
Cardema then defended members of Duterte Youth after photos of supposed oath-taking of its members – seemingly aged 40 and above – surfaced on social media.
He said despite the word “youth” in their group’s name, there is no age limit for individuals who want to be members of Duterte Youth.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2438038362882182&set=a.328396527179720&type=3&theater&_rdc=1&_rdr
https://www.facebook.com/pageindex101/photos/a.874267229311948/2750839428321376/?type=3&theater&_rdc=1&_rdr
Section 9 of Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act says nominees from the youth sector must be at least 25 years old but not older than 30 years old on the day of the elections. Cardema is reportedly 33 years old as of May 13.
Cardema, nevertheless, insisted: “Duterte Youth Party-list is registered in the Comelec to advocate for the Youth & Professionals sectors and under the latter category, there is no age limit.”
“We have filed all the proper documents for substitution on time and we are qualified to represent the Duterte Youth Party-List & the Filipino People who voted for us, inside the Philippine Congress,” he also said.
According to partial and unofficial count from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) transparency server, Duterte Youth has 346,665 votes or 1.26 percent of total votes cast in the midterm polls as of 5 p.m. Monday.
A party-list group has to secure 2 percent of the total votes cast to be able to secure one seat at the House of Representatives. A party-list group could secure up to three seats in Congress.
READ: HOW IT WORKS: Party-list seat allocation in the House
(Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)
