THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) affirmed its earlier decision to junk the registration of the Duterte Youth party-list, owing to its failure to comply with the mandatory requirements for publication and hearing, in connection with its candidacy in 2019.
Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said that in a vote of 5-1, the Comelec en banc threw out the appeal of the Duterte Youth seeking to reverse the earlier decision of the Comelec Second Division in June 2025, invalidating its registration for being void ab initio, for failing to comply with jurisdictional requirements of publication and hearing.
“Wherefore, premises considered, the Comelec en banc resolved, as it hereby resolves to deny the motion for reconsideration. The assailed resolution is hereby affirmed,” the decision stated.
Comelec spokesman Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said that Garcia inhibited, since he used to serve as legal counsel of the Duterte Youth.
In affirming the ruling, Laudiangco said the en banc sees no sufficient reason to reverse the earlier decision.
“The Commission Second Division firmly stressed that, as clearly mandated by law, the duty to publish the required documents for registration lies with the party-list organization. This includes full compliance with jurisdictional requirements such as publication and shouldering the costs thereof,” it stated.
The en banc also agreed that there is no prescriptive period for the cancellation of the registration of party-lists.
It will be recalled that the Duterte Youth got three slots in Congress for placing second in the party-list race during the May 12 elections.
