The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has voted 2-1 to cancel the registration of the Duterte Youth Party-list, citing unresolved legal issues dating back to a petition filed in 2019.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed the move in an interview with reporters, noting that the resolution is set to be officially released today. “The Comelec will release today the resolution on Duterte Youth by a vote of 2-1, cancelling the registration of Duterte Youth Party-list,” he said.
The ruling stems from a complaint filed by youth leaders more than five years ago. The petition questioned the legitimacy of the group’s registration, claiming the Comelec en banc had approved it without proper publication or a formal hearing, both of which are required under the Party-list System Act.
Despite securing more than two million votes and placing second in the party-list race, Duterte Youth’s proclamation had been placed on hold due to the pending legal challenges.
Garcia clarified that the decision is not yet final and executory. The group has five days to file a motion for reconsideration. “The decision of the division is not final and there is a chance that the vote of one member might change when the en banc is held,” he added.
