The Commission on Elections First Division has denied the nomination of former National Youth Commission chairman Ronald Cardema to be the party-list representative of the Duterte Youth due to misrepresentation.
In a 25-page decision, the poll body cited its previous ruling on Aratea vs. COMELEC which canceled the certificate of candidacy of a certain Romeo Lonzanida for misrepresentation.
The decision was signed by Presiding Commissioner Al Parreño and Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Marlon Casquejo.
COMELEC said Cardema committed a misrepresentation on his age when he filed his nomination.
Several youth groups petitioned against Cardema’s nomination, saying the former NYC head, who was 34 years old before the May polls, attempted to deceive the poll body in claiming he was eligible even if the age qualification provided for a representative of the youth sector under the Party-List Law was limited to 25 to 30 years old.
“For emphasis, the Commission reiterates its unmistakable conclusion based on facts, law, and jurisprudence, that Respondent Ronald Cardema is not eligible for nomination to represent Duterte Youth in the House of Representatives,” read the decision of the First Division.
Cardema countered the Duterte Youth party-list represented not only the youth but also young professionals, which had no age limit.
But the COMELEC dismissed the argument by pointing out that professionals could not be differentiated from the youth sector as the Duterte Youth constitution and by-laws did not define what a young professional was.
“We are happy that with the vote of 2-0, the COMELEC First Division has granted our Petition seeking the cancellation of the nomination of Gian Carlo Cardema as the First Nominee of the Duterte Youth Party-List,” said Emil Marañon a lawyer of one of the petitioners.