Cardema appeals disqualification as Duterte Youth nominee

MANILA, Philippines — Ronald Cardema yesterday asked the Commission of Elections (Comelec) to reconsider his disqualification as a nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list group.

In an 11-page motion filed with the Comelec’s First Division, Cardema said the poll body has no jurisdiction over his case.

Cardema said the case should be handled by the House Electoral Tribunal since the party-list group won congressional seats in the midterm elections. 

He said the Comelec erred in cancelling his nomination because of his age as the group was “registered and approved as a sectoral party representing the youth and young professionals.”  

“To limit the qualification of the group’s nominees to 30 years old is erroneous,” he said.

Cardema is 34 years old.

He denied that he committed material misrepresentation in his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA), saying he is qualified as a nominee of Duterte Youth party-list.

On Aug. 5, the Comelec cancelled Cardema’s CONA after finding that he is overaged to represent the youth group.

He serves as president, secretary general and chairman of Duterte Youth group.

Cardema has submitted a new set of nominees for the party-list group, naming himself as the first nominee followed by his wife Ducille Marie Suarez.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the poll body may rule on the validity of the new list of nominees next week.