House of Representatives

After party-list proclamation, young Filipinos say Duterte Youth does ‘not represent’ them

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After party-list proclamation, young Filipinos say Duterte Youth does ‘not represent’ them
'No genuine youth organization, this alliance included, recognizes the representation of Duterte Youth,' says Youth Movement Against Tyranny-UP Manila

Despite pending petitions challenging the group’s registration and nominees, Ducielle Cardema, the controversial nominee of the group Duterte Youth, took her oath as lawmaker on Tuesday, October 13.

This did not sit well with many youth groups.

“We condemn in the strongest of terms the proclamation of Duterte Youth. The Duterte Youth is neither a genuine youth organization nor does it sincerely serve the interests of the Filipino Youth,” We The Future PH, along with at least 46 other youth organizations, said in a unity statement.

Ducielle Cardema is the wife of Ronald Cardema, the former National Youth Commission chairperson and former first nominee of the Duterte Youth party list for the last 2019 midterm elections.

We The Future PH, along with other youth groups, called the proclamation a “betrayal of the Constitution and another brazen disrespect for the rule of law under Duterte.” In their statement, they asserted their refusal to be represented by a “fake youth organization” and reminded the poll body about the serious petitions challenging Duterte Youth’s congressional bid. 

Among these include a petition seeking to cancel the group’s registration as a party-list group in the 2019 elections due to its alleged failure to comply with publication requirements mandated by the Constitution, the Party-List Act, and the poll body’s own rules. 

Duterte Youth was also criticized across the political spectrum when Ronald Cardema sought to substitute his wife as Duterte Youth’s nominee at the last minute, despite being too old to be a youth sector representative.

“As young people, we refuse to be represented by a fake youth organization founded by Ronald Cardema who has a proven track record of lying to advance his political ambitions. What is at stake here is the integrity of our democracy, the integrity of our government institutions, and genuine youth representation in government,” We The Future PH added.

National Union of Students of the Philippines called on the youth to take a stand and push for genuine presentation in Congress, adding how Duterte Youth is “nothing but a fake party-list that has no intention of representing the genuine concerns of the youth.”

Youth Movement Against Tyranny-University of the Philippines (UP) Manila claimed that Duterte Youth’s efforts to identify as a youth organization shows how the political system is being “hijacked by politicians masquerading as genuine representatives of the people.”

“Their act easily falls short when their track record as ‘party-list organizations’ reveal no true representation to their sectors and their sole purpose is to populate Duterte’s supermajority and to carry out his mandate in the legislature,” they said.

“No genuine youth organization, this alliance included, recognizes the representation of Duterte Youth,” Youth Movement Against Tyranny-UP Manila added.

Pushing for stronger youth representation, the various youth groups urged Filipino students and progressive individuals to challenge the proclamation “through all means possible.”

“We call on our fellow youth to stand together in calling out the Comelec (Commission on Elections) to yield to the Constitution, abide by its own regulations, and disqualify the Duterte Youth. We also stand together with other genuine youth organizations, with every defender of democracy, and with other sectors in seeking remedy from the Supreme Court,” said We The Future PH. – with reports from John Philip Bravo/Rappler.com

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