Photo credit: Duterte Youth Party-list

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division has voted 2-1 in favor of canceling the registration of the Duterte Youth Party-list, citing long-standing legal and eligibility concerns. The decision, confirmed by COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, stems from petitions dating back to 2019 that questioned whether the group truly qualifies as a representative of the youth sector.

At the heart of the issue are unresolved questions about the party-list’s compliance with legal requirements, particularly regarding its nominees. Critics have pointed out that some of Duterte Youth’s nominees — most notably Ronald Cardema, who was disqualified in 2019 for exceeding the age limit — fall outside the legally prescribed range of 25 to 30 years old for youth sector representatives.

While the Second Division’s ruling is a major development, Chairperson Garcia emphasized that it is not yet final. The Duterte Youth Party-list has five days to file a motion for reconsideration, which will be reviewed by the COMELEC en banc.

The group’s proclamation had already been put on hold as of May 2025, pending resolution of disqualification cases. Despite reportedly garnering over two million votes in the recent elections, Duterte Youth may ultimately be barred from taking a seat in Congress if the cancellation is upheld.

This move is seen by many election observers as a meaningful push to reinforce the original intent of the party-list system — to give voice to genuine sectoral representatives. For watchdog groups and advocates of electoral reform, the ruling marks a significant step toward ensuring that the system is not misused for political convenience.