Guanzon: Why was Cardema allowed in party-list meetings?

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Why did you allow Ronald Cardema to attend party-list meetings when he had a pending case at the Commission on Elections (Comelec)?

This was the question raised by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon to Rep. Mikee Romero 1-Pacman party-list group during a press conference about the cancelation of the nomination of Cardema.

“Why do they allow him there [in their meetings]? Why do they recognize him [as a party-list representative]? On what basis?” Guanzon said. “If they would still do that, they will be contradicting the authority of the Comelec.”

Before the Comelec released its decision on his case, Cardema has always been present in the gatherings of the party-list coalition, which has at least 50 members.

“I wish to emphasize for the party-list groups that they should take a stand on this issue,” Guanzon said. “Why? Because Mr. Cardema has attended to circumvent the party-list act and it makes them all look bad.”

Under the party-list law, anyone who intended to run as a representative of a youth sector should only be between 25 to 30 years old. Cardema was already 34 years old when he filed his application.

The Comelec First Division thus denied his bid to be the first nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list group, which won a seat in the House of Representatives in the May midterm polls.

READ: Comelec cancels Cardema’s nomination bid for Duterte Youth

/atm