The Makabayan bloc on Friday lauded the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) en banc ruling to cancel the registration of Duterte Youth party-list, and called for the immediate proclamation of Gabriela Women’s party-list.
“We welcome the Comelec en banc’s decision to uphold the cancellation of the Duterte Youth party-list registration. This ruling affirms that the party-list system must serve genuine sectoral representation, not the political interests of dynasties seeking to manipulate electoral institutions,” Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co said.
“This decision is a victory for authentic youth representation in our country. The Duterte Youth does not truly represent the youth… It is a fake organization just to strengthen the political machinery of the Duterte clan,” she added.
The Comelec had canceled the registration of the Duterte Youth party-list, voting 5-1-1, which affirmed the decision of its Second Division on June 18.
“After a careful perusal of the records of this case, the Commission (En banc) finds no cogent reason to depart from or reverse the ruling of the Commission (Second Division),” its 10-page ruling read.
“The Duterte Youth was never established to advance the genuine interests of Filipino youth. Instead, it served as a tool for red-tagging and attacking progressive youth organizations while masquerading as a legitimate sectoral representative,” Co added.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio emphasized the broader implications of the en banc ruling and the urgent need for immediate action.
The Gabriela party-list has been unjustly denied its rightful seat, he said.
“We have witnessed how the absence of genuine women’s representation has resulted in inadequate responses to gender-based violence, reproductive health concerns and economic discrimination against women,” Tinio said.
“We call on the Comelec to act with utmost urgency in proclaiming qualified party-list groups. The Filipino people, especially women and other marginalized sectors, cannot afford further delays in securing their rightful representation in Congress,” he added.
