The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has cancelled the registration of Duterte Youth party-list group for failing to meet the requirements of publication and public hearing.

“The Commission Second Division canceled the registration of Duterte Youth by a vote of 2-1,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview on Wednesday.

The ruling stemmed from a 2019 case filed by four youth leaders challenging Duterte Youth’s registration for failing to comply with publication and hearing processes, which are required under the 1987 Constitution and the Party-list System Act.

“Wherefore, premises considered, the Petition dated 03 September 2019 filed by Reeya Beatric Magtalas, Abigail Aleli Tan, Raainah Punzalan, and Aundell Ross Angcos is hereby granted,” the 25-page decision, promulgated on Wednesday, said.

“The Petition for Registration of Duty to Energize the Republic through the enhancement of the Youth Sectoral Partylist organization, also known as Duterte Youth Party-list, is cancelled,” it added.

Aside from the failure to comply with the required processes, the Second Division also noted the group’s “back and forth switching” of nominees.

“Apart from the foregoing, it likewise need not be belabored that the withdrawal and substitution en masse, as well as the back and forth switching of Duterte Youth’s nominees on 12 May 2019, although arguably within technical bounds, undermines the spirit and intent of the party-list system and puts a mockery in the election process, ultimately violating laws, rules, and regulations relating to elections,” it said.

The division added that the timing and scale of the last-minute changes “violates the principle of transparency and fair representation and deprives the electorate the opportunity to make informed choices.”

Garcia said the group can still appeal the decision.

“Although that was the decision of the Comelec division, the party-list still has a remedy. They can file a motion for reconsideration so that the Commission en banc can resolve it,” he added.

Garcia noted that the ruling will become final and executory after five days unless a motion for reconsideration is filed. (PNA)