The Commission on Elections (Comelec) suspended the proclamation of Duterte Youth and BH Bagong Henerasyon party-list groups on May 19, 2025, due to unresolved legal challenges.
The proclamation ceremony, held at the Philippine International Convention Center, confirmed 52 out of 54 winning party-lists for the 20th Congress.
Duterte Youth secured three seats, BH gained one, but both were excluded from the final proclamation.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), alongside the Commission’s divisions, suspended the proclamation on their own initiative.
He cited serious allegations raised in pending petitions as the reason behind the decision.
Duterte Youth faces at least two disqualification cases, originally filed in 2019 by youth leaders Reeya Magtalas, Abigail Tan, Raainah Punzalan, and Aunell Ross Angcos.
The group allegedly committed misrepresentation and failed to comply with registration requirements, including publication and public hearings.
BH’s case involves nominee Roberto Gerard Nazal Jr., who was previously disqualified from another party-list for not meeting sectoral qualifications.
His nomination under BH prompted questions on compliance and transparency.
Kabataan Party-list Representative-elect Renee Co welcomed the suspension, calling it “Dasurv!” — a slang for “deserved.”
She claimed Duterte Youth never represented real youth interests and expressed hope that the suspension could lead to its disqualification, possibly allowing Gabriela Party-list to take a seat.
Comelec clarified the suspension does not mean disqualification.
The Commission aims to resolve the pending cases before June 30, when new lawmakers assume office.
Duterte Youth received over 2.3 million votes, the second-highest among party-lists.
The group announced plans to challenge the suspension before the Supreme Court, questioning why Comelec previously allowed them to assume office in 2019 and 2022 despite similar issues.
If disqualified, their seats may be redistributed to other eligible groups.
If disqualified, the affected party-lists could file motions for reconsideration or appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn the decision.
Party-list groups represent marginalized and sectoral communities, giving these sectors a voice in legislation and government policy-making.
The suspension could delay or alter representation from the youth and certain sectors, possibly impacting bills related to youth welfare, security forces, or women’s rights.
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