Four days before the national elections, the Duterte Youth Party-List, consistently ranking among the top contenders in pre-election surveys, was hit with a disqualification complaint for alleged repeated red-tagging practices.
On Thursday, May 8, several youth leaders and organizations filed the complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), citing violations of election rules. The petitioners include incumbent student regents from the University of the Philippines (UP) and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), along with the Youth Alliance for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP).
The groups accused Duterte Youth Chairperson Ronald Cardema of branding critics and activists as communists or terrorists—actions that they say have endangered students and chilled political dissent. “Even students who are not politically active have been red-tagged just for studying at UP or PUP,” said UP Student Regent Cheska Duran.
Duran detailed incidents of harassment faced by UP students, including cases of being followed or attacked online simply because of their university affiliation. “Red-tagging kills democracy, critical thought, and our chances of a better future,” she stated.
The complaint emphasized that linking students, activists, and political candidates to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) or the New People’s Army (NPA) without evidence violates their rights and undermines free expression. Youth leaders stressed that such labeling creates a climate of fear on campuses and in communities, especially ahead of crucial elections.
This isn’t the first time Duterte Youth and Cardema have faced controversy. Cardema previously made headlines for aggressive anti-left rhetoric and for attempting to assume a party-list seat despite age eligibility issues.
In a surprising twist earlier today, Cardema also filed an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., citing the administration’s alleged lack of response to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. The move, viewed by critics as politically charged, adds another layer of tension just days before voters head to the polls.
As the elections near, calls are mounting for the Comelec to urgently act on the disqualification case to ensure a fair and intimidation-free voting environment for the Filipino youth and the general public.