Duterte Youth seeks SC help after nullification of registration

The Duterte Youth party-list on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from enforcing its ruling that upheld the nullification of the party’s registration.

In a 34-page petition, the party-list also asked the High Court to issue a writ of preliminary injunction and status quo ante order to restore the status before the promulgation of the nullification.

“We are very confident po,” lawyer Khristian Calabia, the party’s legal counsel, said in an ambush interview.

In August, the poll body junked the motion of reconsideration filed by Duterte Youth that sought to reverse the June 2025 decision of the Comelec Second Division, which voided their registration for being void ab initio, or void from the beginning, due to the failure to comply with the jurisdictional requirements of publication and hearing.

The Duterte Youth further asked the SC to nullify and set aside both rulings, arguing that they were issued with “grave abuse of discretion.”

Named respondents in the petition are the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other individuals.

When sought for comment, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said this is “completely expected.” 

“The running of the period of finality shall proceed as such sans any injunctive writ from the SC,” Garcia said in a message to reporters.

According to the Comelec en banc, it found "no cogent reason" to reverse the decision, adding that Duterte Youth failed to raise any valid or substantial grounds to warrant reconsideration of the assailed resolution.

Duterte Youth ranked second during the May 12 elections, garnering 2,338,564 votes and translating to three seats at the House of Representatives.

“Kahit supporter kayo ni Marcos, kahit supporter kayo ng liberal party, ni Leni, ni Vico, kahit supporter kayo nina Duterte, at kahit wala kayong pakialam sa pulitika ng bansa, sa tingin ko naman, kahit ayaw niyo sa Duterte Youth party-list, gusto ninyo na mayroon kahit isang kongresista diyan… na nagbabalik ng death penalty para sa lahat ng kurakot at plunderer,” Duterte Youth chairperson Ronald Cardema said.  

(Even if you are a supporter of [President Ferdinand] Marcos, a supporter of the Liberal Party, of Leni [Robredo], of [Vico Sotto], even if you are a supporter of [former president Rodrigo] Duterte, and even if you don’t care about the politics of the country, I think that even if you don’t like the Duterte Youth party-list, you would want at least one congressman there… who will bring back the death penalty for all the corrupt and plunderers.) — RF, GMA Integrated News