MANILA – The lawyer of former youth commissioner Ronald Cardema said his client represents the young professionals sector, as the former National Youth Commission official bids to become a party-list representative from the youth sector despite questions on his eligibility.
At a Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division’s hearing on Tuesday, Cardema’s lawyer George Garcia said his client committed no misrepresentation as he can be classified as a representative of both and the youth and professional sectors.
Several groups have asked the Comelec to bar Cardema from sitting as representative of party-list group Duterte Youth, which secured a seat in the recent elections, because he is 4 years over the age limit of 30 for those wanting to represent the youth sector.
Under Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act, nominees of the youth sector must be aged 25 to 30 years old.
Petitioners’ counsel, Emilio Marañon, countered that Cardema has been presenting himself as representative of the youth and should be bound by the law’s definition of “youth” even if Cardema describes himself as representative of young professionals.
The Commission on Elections last week said it accepted Cardema as one of the nominees of Duterte Youth in the House of Representatives.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, however, clarified that it was only Cardema’s application for substitution that was given “due course,” as the remaining issues on his qualification have yet to be resolved. (ABS-CBN/PN)
