Comelec cancels Duterte Youth registration

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and son Baste Duterte, acting Davao City Mayor. ARCHIVE

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has upheld the cancellation of the registration of the Duterte Youth party-list, voting 5-1-1 to affirm a June 18 ruling by its Second Division. In its 10-page decision released to media on Friday (August 29), the Commission said: “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).” Comelec clarified that there is no prescriptive period for canceling the registration of party-list groups, stressing that this ensures only genuine and qualified sectors benefit from the system. Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the ruling can be appealed: “The next recourse is for the respondent to file a petition before the Supreme Court within 30 days.” In the May 2025 midterm elections, Duterte Youth received 2,338,564 votes, which would have entitled it to three House seats. However, the National Board of Canvassers withheld its proclamation due to pending cases. Several youth organizations, including Gabriela Youth, Anakbayan, and Kabataan Tayo ang Pag-asa, earlier petitioned for its disqualification, citing alleged misrepresentation. Petitioners argued that the party-list system must represent marginalized sectors and not serve as a “backdoor” for political dynasties. ICA/Expat Media