Comelec says resolution on Duterte Youth case to come out soon

Ronald Cardema speaks as members of the League of Parents of the Philippines (LPP) and the Duterte Youth march near the University of the Philippines (UP) University Avenue in Diliman Quezon City on January 26, 2021. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia said the poll body has already come up with a resolution on the pending case against Duterte Youth party-list.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Garcia revealed this case is part of the poll body’s priorities as it has been pending before the commission since 2019.

"Sa pagkaalam ko, meron na silang resolution sa bagay na yan at kung ano botohan," Garcia said. "Hindi lang natin alam, pero katulad ng sabi natin, huwag mag-alala party-list at supporters niya sapagkat yan naman po ay kasama sa pina-prioritize katulad din naman ng ibang kaso natin."

"Matagal na pong nakabinbin yan kaya marapat lamang na ito ay madesisyunan na kahit paano para magkaalaman ano ba talaga yung patutunguhan ng ating party-list na ito. Ang gusto lang naman ng Comelec ay ma-dispose na yung kaso na yan- again, hindi naman ako puwedeng mag-participate, division pa rin naman yan. Kinakailangan ito ay madesisyunan na at all cost," he added.

READ: Duterte Youth files SC petition challenging Comelec's suspension of proclamation

According to Garcia, the draft resolution of the “ponente” in a particular case needs to be routed to the members of the division for them to study whether to agree with it or not.

“May proseso sa Division. Pag may draft na ang ponente, kailangan iikot sa members. Pagaaralan nila kung sasama or dissent dun sa ginawa ng ponente. Hintayin na lang natin - konting-konting panahon na lang po yun,” Garcia adds.

The poll chief explained that the case of Duterte Youth is morecomplicated compared to the case of Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-list.

“Yun kasing BH party-list ay on technicality. Nakita wala pala namang copy furnished so dun pa lamang sa issue na yun, wala nang due process. Dito kasi sa Duterte Youth medyo kumplikado. Sabi ng Division, yung issue nga dito kino-consider kasi lahat… or example, paano nakatakbo ng 2019, 2022 at 2025? It goes into the very heart daw po ang issue ng accreditation so hindi po ganon kadali katulad ng sa Bagong Henerasyon party-list na bago pumunta sa merits ng kaso, tiningnan muna kung ito ay supisyente in form bago yung substance,” Garcia told reporters.

READ: Comelec nixes disqualification plea vs Bagong Henerasyon

Also on Tuesday, several youth groups went to the commission and submitted their letter addressed to Garcia to urge the poll body to immediately decide on the case of Duterte Youth.

“Kinikilala natin na ang dapat mauupo sa loob ng kongreso ay marapat lamang nagrerepresenta at magmumula sa sektor natin…at yung pagkakaupo ng Duterte Youth sa loob ng kongreso ay seat na ninanakaw mula sa youth sector ng mga kababaihan,” said Fran Reyes, spokesperson of Gabriela Youth.

”It's time that you do not run in congress, you misrepresent the youth,” said Brell Lacerna, national convener of Kabataan Tayo ang Pagasa.

The poll body said it welcomes those letters but the commission will decide based on the merits of the case, said Garcia.

“Technically po dapat hindi makaka-impluwensiya ang isang liham, sulat para lamang pabilisin ang kaso ng sinuman. Kasi nga naman, otherwise, ang mangyayari don eh lahat nalang susulat sa Comelec upang mapaboran o mapabilis ang kaso,” Garcia explained.

READ: Kabataan Rep. Co on Duterte Youth: 'Di naman nila nirerepresenta ang kabataan'

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