By Leslie Ann Aquino
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has set the hearing for the petition seeking to cancel the registration of Duterte Youth party-list on Dec. 18.
Comelec Commissioner Luie Tito Guia (TWITTER / MANILA BULLETIN)
The poll body said the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at the Comelec Session Hall of the Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila.
"Acting on the 'Petition to Cancel Party-List Registration and/or to Declare Nullity of its Registration' filed on Sept. 3, 2019, the Commission (Second Division) hereby sets the case for hearing," reads the Order signed by Presiding Commissioner Luie Guia.
The Comelec said the marking of evidences shall be held at the office of the Clerk of the Commission at 9 a.m. on Dec. 17.
Earlier, petitioners Reeya Beatrice Magtalas, Abigail Aleli Tan, Raainah Punzalan, and Aunell Ross Angcos claimed that Duterte Youth has committed grounds for the cancellation of its registration.
They said these grounds are: it made untruthful statements in its petition, particularly about the eligibility of its nominees; it has no bona fide intention to represent the sector for which the petition has been filed; it advocated violence or unlawful means to achieve its goal; that it was an adjunct of or an entity funded or assisted by the government, specifically of the National Youth Commission (NYC); it violates or fails to comply with law, rules, or regulations relating to elections; and the petition was filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute.
"Wherefore, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that after due notice and hearing, to declare respondent Duterte Youth’s registration as void ab initio for not having complied with the mandatory jurisdictional requirements of publication and public hearing and to cancel/nullify/undo all its effects," said the petitioners.
"Or, in the alternative, to cancel respondent Duterte Youth's registration as youth sectoral party for committing grounds for cancellation under Rule 2 Section 3 in relation to Section 2 of Comelec Resolution No. 9366," they added.