Comelec ‘rewrote’ rules in favor of Duterte Youth – poll lawyer

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) “rewrote” its rules to accommodate the substitution pleas of Duterte Youth party-list, election lawyer Emilio Marañon said on Monday.

With this, Marañon, counsel for the youth groups who earlier successfully sought the disqualification of Ronald Cardema, said that their camp would bring the case to the Supreme Court.

“Comelec effectively rewrote its own rules and even the law in accommodating Duterte Youth’s belated withdrawal. Clearly, this another wave of ‘merry-go-round’ of nominees is intended to secure Duterte Youth’s congressional seat to either of the Cardema couple which is not only legally but morally wrong,” Marañon said in a text message to INQUIRER.net when asked for comment on Comelec’s ruling that approved the new set of substitutes of Duterte Youth.

“We intend to elevate the matter to the Supreme Court as this action is patently illegal and unconstitutional,” he added.

According to Marañon, their camp was “very disappointed” upon receiving the decision of the Comelec en banc to approve the substitution bid of Cardema’s wife, Ducielle Marie Suarez Cardema.

READ: Comelec approves Duterte Youth new substitute nominees

He noted that withdrawals and substitution motions should not be made after the Election Day. In this case, after May 13, 2019.

“This deadline is clearly provided for in Rule 4 Section 4 of Comelec Resolution No. 9366 and we do not understand why Duterte Youth is being exempted from the deadline,” he added.

It could be noted that Ducielle Cardema, and three others, submit their substitution bid last August 6./ac

READ: Cardema still Duterte Youth’s 1st nominee despite Comelec ruling