Lacson on Cardema's Congress bid: Time to review 'joke' party-list system

It is time to review the party-list system, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday following the attempt of National Youth Commission chairman Ronald Cardema to be a substitute nominee for Duterte Youth.

“Ronald Cardema and the Duterte Youth party-list are just two of several reasons why the party-list system has become a joke,” Lacson said.

“Maybe it’s time a through review should be undertaken to find out if it still serves the purpose for which its creation was provided in the Constitution,” he added.

The party-list system intends the proportional representation of marginalized sectors in the House of Representatives.

On May 12, Cardema filed before the Commission on Elections a petition allowing him to be a substitute nominee of Duterte Youth. He wants to replace his wife Ducielle Suarez as the first nominee of the party-list group.

Malacanang asked Cardema to vacate his post as his filing of the petition to substitute “connotes that he is considered ipso facto resigned from his present post.”

"Regardless of the outcome, we deem that Mr. Cardema has already abandoned his present position because his act of filing the petition absolutely reflects his intention to relinquish his office and exposes his desire to serve the government in a different capacity," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace also asked the Department of Justice to probe Cardema for allegedly presiding over a meeting of the NYC even after being considered resigned from his post.

Panelo said he received a text message from an unknown number that Cardema presided over a meeting on May 15, three days after he asked the Commission on Elections to allow him to become a substitute nominee

He said the DOJ would also look into allegations that Cardema used his position to promote the Duterte Youth during the campaign period. —JST, GMA News