The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has voted to cancel the registration of the Duterte Youth party-list, following years of legal scrutiny and unresolved petitions challenging its legitimacy.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed on Wednesday that the commission’s decision will be formally promulgated the same day. The vote to cancel the party-list’s registration passed by a 2-1 majority.
“This resolution is the result of a complaint filed back in 2019,” Garcia told reporters. “The Comelec found merit in the petition that questioned the registration process of the Duterte Youth party-list.”
The controversy dates back to the 2019 elections when several youth leaders filed a petition contesting the legality of the Duterte Youth’s accreditation. They argued that the Comelec en banc had approved the group’s registration without fulfilling the required procedures under the Party-list System Act—notably, the publication of the petition and the conduct of a public hearing.
These steps are considered essential safeguards to ensure transparency and public participation in the accreditation of sectoral representatives.
Despite these legal concerns, the Duterte Youth party-list was included in the 2019 elections and garnered substantial support, ranking second among party-list contenders with over 2 million votes. However, its official proclamation was withheld due to the unresolved legal issues surrounding its registration.
Chairman Garcia emphasized that Wednesday’s decision is not yet final. The Duterte Youth may still file a motion for reconsideration within five days from promulgation. “This is a division decision, not an en banc ruling. There is still a chance for the vote to change when it is reviewed by the full commission,” Garcia explained.
The case has sparked renewed discussions on the need for stricter enforcement of party-list laws, especially in ensuring that organizations truly represent marginalized sectors. Critics of Duterte Youth have long questioned whether the group adheres to the spirit and purpose of the party-list system.
The Duterte Youth has yet to issue an official statement on the cancellation or whether it intends to appeal the ruling.
With this latest development, the spotlight is once again on Comelec’s role in safeguarding electoral integrity and enforcing compliance with legal processes for party-list groups vying for seats in Congress.