MANILA – Despite the proclamation of the winning party-list representatives yesterday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to hand out its verdict on Ronald Cardema’s bid to be substitute representative of Duterte Youth party-list group.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez on Wednesday said the poll body has yet to resolve the substitution bid of former National Youth Commission chair to his wife Ducielle.
Jimenez added that Cardema’s qualification, including his possibly being too old for the position as a representative youth group, is something for the commission en banc to consider.
“These are the substantive issues that are still being discussed. First of all, the age…I don’t know exactly how old the guy is and second, as to the timing there are some overlapping rules that would impact that kaya pinag-aaralan ‘yan ng mabuti,” Jimenez said.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, in a social media post, said Cardema should not just celebrate yet as being Duterte Youth party-list representative as his bid is yet to be approved.
“The substitution of Cardema has not yet been approved,” Guanzon said.
Cardema, a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, recently filed a petition to replace his wife Ducielle Suarez, as the first nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list.
Critics slammed him for supposedly making a mockery of the party-list system. They also raised questions in Cardema’s qualification to represent Duterte Youth given his age./PN
