Duterte Youth asked to explain nominee's use of 'Cardema' in CONA

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a letter to the Duterte Youth partylist, asking the organization to explain its first nominee’s use of a different surname on her Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CONA) for Eleksyon 2025.

In a virtual interview on Tuesday, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said their law department wrote to Drixie Mae Cardema, directing her to address her use of a different family name on her CONA. 

This, after reports on social media alleged that her actual name was Drixie Mae Suarez. 

“Ginawa ng law department na letter instead kasi ayaw natin sabihin na may formal na kaso na agad sila na kakaharapin,” Garcia said.

(We opted for a letter because we don't want to say that there will be formal charges against them.)

“Wala namang problema ang pagpapaliwanag muna kasi syempre. Ito ay motu proprio ng Commission,” he added. 

(There is no problem if we ask them to explain first.)

The Duterte Youth party-list was provided three days to respond.

Duterte Youth chairperson Ronald Cardema previously said their first nominee used a different surname for “name recall”. 

“First of all, Duterte Youth Party-List Cong. Drixie Mae Suarez-Cardema is the sister of former Duterte Youth Party-List Cong. Ducielle Marie Suarez-Cardema,” said Ronald, the partylist chairperson and husband of Ducielle said.

“In the start of every Congress, congressmen and senators, formally request the House and the Senate for the political names that they prefer to use for the entire Congress because name recall is key to Philippine politics,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Garcia clarified the poll body is not singling out the partylist, adding the law department only “needs to settle the issue.” 

“Ang ating garantiya sa mismong nominee, wag silang mag-alala. The Comelec will always be fair, impartial, and will always be reasonable and just sa pagtingin sa issue na ito,” he added.

(We want to assure the nominee that the Comelec will always be fair, impartial, reasonable, and just in deciding on this case.)

Garcia previously clarified the case will not affect Drixie’s nomination and possible proclamation, saying there were no formal petitions filed for the cancellation of her nomination. —VAL, GMA Integrated News