Comelec law department summons Cardema for alleged misrepresentation

The Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s Law Department has issued a subpoena on former National Youth Commission Chairperson Ronald Cardema over alleged material misrepresentation in violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

In a document shared by Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, the poll body’s law department asked Cardema to submit a counter-affidavit and personally appear on December 13 for a hearing.

Cardem, 34, earlier this year declared in his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) as nominee of Duterte Youth party-list that he was eligible to run as a representative of a youth party-list group.

The law only allow those aged 25 to 30 to represent youth party-list groups.

“You  are hereby warned that failure to comply with the subpoena will be considered a waiver of your right to present your defense and the case will be considered submitted for resolution based on evidence on record,” the subpoena read.

In August, the Comelec First Division already junked the nomination of Cardema as Duterte Youth party-list over material misrepresentation because of being overage.

The decision stemmed from the two petitions lodged several youth groups against Cardema largely anchored on the fact that Cardema—who is 34 years old—seeks to break the law by filing his substitution bid as nominee of Duterte Youth party-list last May 12 even if the Party-list law states that party-list representatives of the youth sector should only be aged between 25 to 30 years old.

The Comelec First Division said then that Cardema’s move was punishable under Comelec Resolution 9366 which states that a sole ground for cancellation of nomination is when there is a material misrepresentation committed in the qualification of nominees.

By September, the Comelec en banc approved the substitute nominees of Duterte Youth party-list and recognized Cardema's wife Ducielle, Guillermo Villarreal, Jr., Krizza Reyes and Robert Garcia as Duterte Youth party-list nominees.

This recognition happened after the Comelec en banc  accepted the withdrawal of former Duterte Youth party-list nominees Gian Carlo Galang, Catherine Santos, Kerwin Pagaran and Sharah Shane Makabali.

The Comelec Commissioners who voted to approve the new nominees of Duterte Youth party-list include Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas, Al Parreño, Soccoro Inting and Antonio Kho, Jr.

Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia abstained, while Commissioners Guanzon and Marlon Casquejo were on leave and on official business, respectively.

Cardema, however, already withdrew his nomination as Duterte party-list representative on September 16 or 10 days after the Comelec en banc approved the substitute nominees of Duterte party-list. —NB, GMA News