Comelec urged to dismiss NTF-Elcac’s DQ case vs Kabataan party-list

MANILA, Philippines — Youth leaders have urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to dismiss the disqualification case filed by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) against the Kabataan party-list.

The youth leaders submitted a letter to the Comelec on Thursday, signed by representatives of 12 youth organizations and seven student institutions.

READ: Kabataan party list: NTC-Elcac wasting taxpayers’ money

In a statement, the youth and student leaders said they appealed to the poll body “to affirm the need to defend and strengthen formal institutions of government and society as a guarantee of progress.”

In 2021, the NTF-Elcac sought to disqualify the party-list, alleging it was a legal front for communist rebels. The Kabataan Party-list has denied the allegations.

“The case filed against Kabataan, along with other fabricated charges slapped against several youth leaders is coordinated legal harassment meant to tame critical youth voices at a time when we most need it — all to maintain the rotten system we inherited that benefits the few,” the youth leaders said. 

READ: Gabriela Party-list files red-tagging complaint vs NTF-Elcac

They urged the Comelec “to act with reason and help the youth regain faith in democracy instead of further cementing its decline, by protecting what remains of genuine youth representation.”

The youth and student leaders also called on the Comelec to reform the “broken electoral system,” noting that the impunity of corrupt officials, fake party-lists, big businesses, and political dynasties poses “the true threat to our democracy.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the NTF-Elcac expressed support for the poll body in conducting the hearing, describing it as a “due process” and not a “political theater.” /mcm