16/05/2025
OVER 100 ORGANIZATIONS CALL TO DISQUALIFY DUTERTE YOUTH PARTY-LIST!
Disqualify Fake Party-lists! Disqualify Duterte Youth! Uphold Clean, Honest, Fair, and Peaceful Elections
Unity Statement
May 16, 2025
WE, youth and youth-serving organizations, student councils, student publications, and community-based groups, as the undersigned, do hereby call for the unconditional disqualification of Duty to Energize the Republic through the Enlightenment of the Youth (Duterte Youth) Party-list, which never advocated for the youth's legislative concerns and instead led several initiatives detrimental to our welfare.
The party-list system plays a vital role in ensuring inclusive representation in Congress. Article VI, Section 5 (2) of the 1987 Constitution relegates 20% of the total membership of the House of Representatives to party-list representatives. This system ensures a voice in legislation for marginalized and underrepresented sectors of society.
However, the integrity of this definition comes into question with the existence and registration of several dubious and fake party-lists. Election watchdog Kontra Daya flagged 86 of 155 groups gunning for the 63 seats this year, 40 operated by political dynasties.
Duterte Youth is set to secure the second spot for party-lists in the recent elections, garnering over two million votes nationwide. Chaired by former National Youth Commission Chair Ronald Cardema, it proudly brands itself as the sole group in Congress fighting against leftist groups.
But what their crusade is, in truth, a troubling campaign marked by blatant red-tagging, baseless accusations, and the intentional spread of disinformationโtargeting progressive voices that advocate for genuine social change. What they frame as patriotism is, in truth, a systematic campaign that endangers lives, undermines democracy, and suppresses dissent.
Because of its relentless attacks, the Duterte Youth has become a serious threat to our safety as young people, students, and progressive individuals and organizations. This malignant behavior is more than enough to justify the filings of disqualification cases against the group, a move strongly supported by Kabataan, Tayo ang Pag-asa (KTAP), alongside a broad coalition of organizations, schools, and other formations committed to defending the democratic rights of the Filipino people.
Despite our continued struggle with the lack of accessible, quality, and inclusive education, the Duterte Youth has offered no real solutionsโnot to this, nor the many chronic crises affecting young people and the broader Filipino population, even after claiming they represent the youth. It only proves that the group does not represent the marginalized or underrepresented but rather is a new face of state fascism, aimed at silencing those who bravely choose to stand and fight back.
Their routine attacks against us threaten our safety and directly disrespect the integrity of the elections system. In the long run, allowing this type of party-list to remain in Congress poses a serious risk to the very foundations of our democracy, especially in our fight towards achieving clean, honest, fair, and peaceful elections.
With this, Kabataan, Tayo ang Pag-asa stands in solidarity with the call and urges the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to disqualify Duterte Youth Partylist now. The COMELEC promised that disqualification cases against bogus party-lists like Duterte Youth be resolved before election day. After an upsurge of election-related violence and reports of fraud the agency must, with utmost urgency, resolve all motions laid on its table before the proclamation of candidates, to save government resources that this partylist group may abuse for selfish gains.
We call on every Filipino to stand together and reject groups like the Duterte Youth who falsely claim to represent us, yet are behind the violence inflicted on the youth and progressive sectors of the country.
The Filipino people deserve genuine representation in government. The party-list law must be amended and not be bastardized by the likes of the Duterte Youth. There should be no space for any individual or organization that harms people and degrades their initiatives in a government that is meant to serve the masses.
SIGN THE UNITY STATEMENT: https://bit.ly/DisqualifyDuterteYouth
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SIGNATORIES:
College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag ng PUP (AKM-PUP)
National Union of Students of the Philippines
Anakbayan
League of Filipino Students
Panday Sining
Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
Institute for Nationalist Studies
University of the Philippines Office of the Student Regent
PUP Office of the Student Regent
PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral
PUP College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment Student Council
PUP College of Communication Student Council
PUP Pulilan Central Student Council
PUP College of Education Student Council
PUP College of Engineering Student Council
PUP Open University System Student Council
PUP College of Computer and Information Sciences Student Council
PUP College of Political Science and Public Administration Student Council
PUP College of Business Administration Student Council
PUP College of Social Sciences and Development Student Council
Rise for Education PUP
Rise for Education PUP OUS
Rise for Education PUP - COC
College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Tarlac
The Knight Publication - Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba
The Mariner - Marinersโ Polytechnic Colleges, Inc.
ThePILLARS Publication - Ateneo de Naga University
College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Camarines Sur
UP Cebu University Student Council
Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante - NKE UP Cebu
College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Davao
Atenews - Ateneo de Davao University
CLSU - University Supreme Student Council
League of Filipino Students - Katipunan
DASIG - NTC
Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan PUP (SAMASA PUP)
PUP Cabiao Campus Student Council
College Editors Guild of the Philippines Ilocos
National Union of the Philippines - Tarlac
Anakbayan - Tarlac
Alliance of Concerned Students - Tarlac
Anakbayan - Vito Cruz
Himati - UP Mindanao
Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC) - UST Central Political Party
Lakas-LOOB (Lakas - Leadership Onwards Outstanding Beginning) - UST Local Political Party
LAPIS (League of Architecture Students Promoting Innovating Service) - UST Local Political Party
SDP (Studentsโ Democratic Party) - UST Local Political Party
College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Southern Tagalog
Youth Movement Against Tyranny - Southern Tagalog
Kaya Natin Youth - Paniqui
National Union of the Students of the Philippines - Tarlac
One Big Fight for Human Rights and Democracy (OBFHRD)
THE WORK- Official Student Publication of Tarlac State University
LIPAD Atenista (Liga ng Inklusibo, Progresibo, at Demokratikong Atenista)
The Sentinel - City College of Calamba
Alyansang Tapat Sa Lasallista
PCU Manila - Junior Social Workersโ of the Philippines
PCU Manila - Philosophical Association of Philippine Christian University
UP Manila College of Public Health Student Council
The BISCAST Collegian
UP Pharmaceutical Association Student Council
WriterSkill
University Student Government of PCU Manila (PCU-USG)
Anakbayan Diliman
Anakbayan Quezon City
Classic Barkadahan
Angat Roxas Initiative
Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity
League of Filipino Students - UP Manila
DCT The Veritas
The Compass, Mapรบa Malayan Colleges Mindanao
The Bicol Universitarian - Official Student Publication of Bicol University
UPOU University Student Council
National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates Youth
Malabon Alliance of Youth for Good Governance
PNU USC-Student Gender and Development Commission
PNU-USC Central Student Council
PNU Mulat
PNU Luntian
PNU USC Freshman Assembly
PNU Bantay
League of Filipino Students - PUP
The Communicator
The Catalyst
Anakbayan PUP
UP Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity
The Cursor - UP Open University
Sanggunian ng mga Mag-Aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila - Office of the President
Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino (KATRIBU)
SULONG PCU
Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas - NEC
Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino (KATRIBU) - UP Manila
Ateneo Peers
BPSU College of Arts and Sciences - Student Government
Reference:
Brell Lacerna
KTAP National Convenor
[email protected]
