Comelec ready to face case filed by party list group

Commission on Elections chair George Erwin Garcia answers questions during a press conference at Manila Hotel’s Tent City on Friday, May 16, 2025. — Photo by John Eric Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday they are ready to defend themselves in the certiorari suit filed by Duterte Youth, after its proclamation was suspended due to two pending cases against the party list group.

In a news forum in Manila, Garcia, who had inhibited himself from the Comelec decision not to proclaim the group due to a “previous professional relationship,” said they are committed to resolving the pending cases.

READ: Duterte Youth party-list seeks TRO vs proclamation suspension

One of the cases dating back to 2019, questions the procedure for the group’s accreditation, while the second one, filed last month, casts doubts on its qualifications and also accused it of Red-tagging.

“We still retain jurisdiction to resolve their cases because they’re not yet members of the House of Representatives,” Garcia said, referring to Duterte Youth and Bagong Henerasyon, the other party list group whose proclamation was also stopped by the poll body. —Jerome Aning