Comelec accepts new Duterte Youth nominees

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has accepted the new set of nominees of Duterte Youth party-list, which includes the wife of disqualified Ronald Cardema.

Based on Minute Resolution No. 19-0849 dated Aug. 28, the Comelec approved the withdrawal of the second set of nominees of the group filed on the eve of the May 13 midterm polls. 

“The commission, after due deliberation, resolves to approve the withdrawal of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th nominees of the Duterte Youth party-list as acceptance of the withdrawal is merely ministerial and same having been executed in due form,” the resolution stated.

These nominees are Gian Carlo Galang (2nd), Catherine Santos (3rd); Kerwin Pagaran (4th) and Sharah Shane Makabali (5th).

At the same time, the poll body has resolved to “recognize” the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th as the “new nominees of the said party-list as practically the list of nominees is exhausted in view of the withdrawal of the above nominees,” the resolution showed. 

These nominees are Ducielle Marie Cardema (2nd); Guillermo Villareal Jr. (3rd); Krizza Reyes (4th) and Robert Garcia (5th).

In both sets, Cardema was the leading nominee but he was disqualified by Comelec’s First Division after he was found to be overage at 34.