The Commission on Election (Comelec) suspended Duterte Youth party-list and Bagong Henerasyon party-list’s proclamation due to pending cases filed against them.
“Considering the serious allegations raised in the petitions, which involve grave violation of election laws, the National Board of Canvassers resolves to suspend the proclamation of Duterte Youth and BH party lists, until the speedy and judicious resolution of the petitions filed before the clerk of the commission,” Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said.
He explained that suspending the said party-lists’ nomination did not mean they were disqualified.
“It will be prudent for us to resolve the pending cases first so their proclamation will not go to waste,” Garcia told the media.
Section 2-C of Article IX of the 1987 Constitution grants the Comelec broad authority over election-related matters, including resolving disputes before a winner is proclaimed.
The first case against Duterte Youth was filed in 2019 by youth leaders Reeya Beatrice Magtalas, Abigail Aleli Tan, Raainah Punzalan, and Aundell Ross Angcos, with former Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. and lawyer Emil Marañon as counsels.
They argued that the party-list’s registration should be voided due to being approved without the publication of its petition for registration and holding a proper hearing on its application in violation of Republic Act No. 7941, or the Party-List System Act.
Duterte Youth also faced another case on May 8 due to “repeated and malicious” Red-tagging of other candidates, which violates Comelec Resolution No. 11127.
BH also faced a disqualification case on May 14 filed by lawyer Russell Stanley Geronimo, alleging incumbent BH Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy and its nominees led by Roberto Nazal Jr. of violating the Omnibus Election Code, particularly Sections 261(i) for intervention of public officers and employees, and 261(o) for use of public funds, money deposited in trust, equipment and facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign.
If the party-lists are disqualified, Comelec said their votes will be considered stray and excluded from seat allocation, increasing the number of winning party-lists.
