Comelec suspends proclamation of Duterte Youth, BH party-lists
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia speaks in a press conference in Manila. (File photo from NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net)
[Updated May 19, 2025, 4:23 p.m.]
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday suspended the proclamation of party-list groups Duterte Youth and Bagong Henerasyon (BH) due to pending petitions against them.
The Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, issued the resolution for suspension during the proclamation of winning party-lists at Manila Hotel Tent City.
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said: “In its recommendation dated May 17, 2025, the supervisory committee has recommended the suspension of the proclamation of Duterte Youth Partylist and BH Bagong Henerasyon.”
“Considering the serious allegations raised in the above petitions which involved grave violation of election laws, the National Board of Canvassers resolves to suspend the proclamation of Duterte Youth Party-list and Bagong Henerasyon Party-lists until the speedy and judicious resolution of the petitions filed before the Clerk of Commission,” Garcia added.
Duterte Youth to raise case to SC
Duterte Youth is the second party-list with the highest number of votes at 2,338,564, entitling it to three House seats.
Petitioners said the Duterte Youth made untruthful statements regarding the ages of their nominees, which they say would void its registration.
One of Duterte Youth’s nominees at that time was former National Youth Commission chairman Ronald Cardema, whom the Comelec had disqualified.
The party-list law sets an age requirement for youth representatives at the maximum age of 30 years on the day of the election. Cardema was already 34 by the time the 2019 polls took place.
However, Duterte Youth party-list said they will challenge Comelec’s decision before the Supreme Court.
“This is definitely a grave abuse of discretion just to hold back the choice of millions of Filipinos,” the party-list said in a statement.
The party-list questioned Comelec’s decision to suspend the proclamation since they noted that it already allowed the party-list to assume a seat in previous Congresses in 2019 and 2022.
On the allegation that the party-list registration should be voided, the party-list said: “That is not possible.”
“Comelec will not allow a non-registered entity to join in the elections. The Supreme Court even ruled on it when the same petitioners raised it the Supreme Court, the SC dismissed them in 2020,” the group said.
BH mum on suspension
On the other hand, BH got 319,803 votes, enabling the group to have one House seat to be occupied by first nominee Roberto Nazal Jr.
BH issued a statement on Monday thanking its supporters without addressing its proclamation suspension.
“We thank our loyal constituents — the young adults, solo parents, heads of households, and the younger generation — who have elected us for the fifth time. Since first being elected in 2010, Bagong Henerasyon has built a solid constituency grounded in real service,” the party-list said in a statement.
“Within the BH Party-list, we have transitioned to a new generation of leaders led by our First Nominee and now Congressman-elect Roberto “Bert” Nazal, Jr. Together, we will chart the next chapter for Bagong Henerasyon,” the group added.
54 groups proclaimed
With the proclamation suspension of two party-lists, the Comelec is only slated to proclaim 54 party-list groups which will habve a total of 63 seats.
Akbayan and Tingog have emerged as the first and third party-list groups with the most votes, making them eligible for three House seats each.
According to the official result, Akbayan got 2,779,621 votes while Tingog got 1,822,708 votes./apl /mr/gsg
