A top official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) pointed out on Monday that Cardema’s bid to become the official nominee of the Duterte Youth party list group was still pending with the poll body. Also on Monday, several groups opposed Cardema’s substitution in a petition they filed in the Comelec, saying that Duterte Youth was gaming the party list elections and that the 11th-hour substitution violated a Comelec rule. The five nominees of Duterte Youth, who included his wife and relative, had supposedly withdrawn their nomination. Despite actively campaigning for Duterte Youth, Cardema had earlier ignored calls for him to leave his post. “This means that the Duterte Youth nominees who are probable winners in the last polls should first take their oath and assume office as representatives.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 20, 2019 23:26 UTC