(Eagle News)–Ronald Cardema, who had been disqualified as a nominee for the Duterte Youth party-list for not meeting the age requirement, has withdrawn his nomination to allow for the proclamation of the party-list as a winner in the 2019 elections.
In his letter posted by Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, Cardema, however, stood by his allegations against Guanzon, saying she “requested and forced favors” from them.
Cardema has claimed Guanzon asked P2 million in exchange for the approval of the partylist’s accreditation.
He later said he had given the money to an alleged emissary of Guanzon, who has vehemently and repeatedly denied the allegations.
“More than 350,000 Filipinos voted and gave their mandate to the Duterte Youth partylist last May 2019 and until now we are not able to take our seat in the Philippine Congress because of the public harassment of (Guanzon),” Cardema said.
He said his withdrawal was therefore a “sacrifice” for their partylist.
“It is my personal prayer that my personal sacrifice be accepted and proceed now to the immediate release of the certificate of proclamation of the succeeding nominee of the Duterte Youth partylist,” Cardema said.
“May this be viewed as a fresh start for the Comelec and the pro-government Duterte Youth party-list, partnering towards nation building,” he added.
Although the Duterte Youth partylist had garnered enough votes to secure a seat in the House of Representatives, the Comelec has put on hold the partylist’s proclamation as winner pending Cardema’s motion for reconsideration on his disqualification before the Comelec’s First Division.
