Why Cancelling Duterte Youth’s Partylist Status Could Spark the Reform We Desperately Need

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

It’s not every day you see justice write itself so poetically, but this might be one of those rare moments.

After years of controversy, delays, and mounting questions, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has finally moved to cancel the partylist registration of the Duterte Youth — a group whose name, ideology, and alleged violations have long stirred debate. Now, with this major step taken, many are waiting with bated breath for the decision to become final and executory.

And when that day comes? Well, it would mean that three more partylist representatives — all from the progressive Makabayan Bloc — could finally be proclaimed. Yes, that’s right. If things go as they should, Duterte Youth’s removal may indirectly ensure that ACT Teachers (Antonio Tinio), Kabataan (Renee Co), and Gabriela (Sarah Elago) retain their rightful seats in Congress. A plot twist for the ages: the group that spent years vilifying so-called communists might just end up empowering their biggest critics. Karma? Irony? Call it what you want.

A Strong Legal Case… and Something Deeper

The Comelec’s Second Division didn’t just pull this decision out of thin air. Their ruling is grounded in solid constitutional and legal principles. It details how Duterte Youth allegedly violated laws meant to keep our electoral processes fair, honest, and transparent.

Among the most damning revelations? The use of a false surname by Duterte Youth’s first nominee. Let that sink in. The very person expected to represent citizens in Congress may have started off by signing official documents with a fake name. Both the Certificate of Nomination and the Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination — which are required by law to be notarized — reportedly contained this falsehood.

Imagine the everyday Filipino struggling to secure a passport, or a birth certificate, or a loan, knowing they’d face legal trouble for even the smallest mistake on a notarized document. And here we have someone trying to get into Congress using a name that’s not theirs?

The Bigger Picture: A Partylist System in Crisis

Let’s be honest: Duterte Youth is just the tip of the iceberg. The partylist system, which was supposed to level the playing field and give the underrepresented a real voice in national policy-making, has slowly been hijacked. Instead of labor leaders, farmers, fisherfolk, and other marginalized groups, we now see partylist groups backed by corporations, dynasties, and even government agencies. Some “partylist” groups barely even pretend to advocate for a sector — they’re political springboards, plain and simple.

This perversion of the system has led many to throw their hands up and call for its abolition altogether. But that would be a tragic mistake.

Scrapping the partylist system would be like demolishing a house just because it needs repairs. We don’t need to kill the idea — we need to fix it.

A Way Forward — Yes, It Exists

Instead of giving up, we need to look back at how things were supposed to work. In 2001, the Comelec and Supreme Court disqualified Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD) because it didn’t represent any marginalized sector. That decision helped clarify that the partylist system is not a free-for-all. It’s meant for groups pushed to the fringes, not for elites looking for an extra seat in Congress.

We also need to keep the formula for allocating all partylist seats — something the Constitution itself mandates — so that more groups can break through, especially those who rarely make it past the gatekeepers of traditional politics.

Think about it: when was the last time you saw a genuine representative for the LGBT community in Congress? Ang Ladlad, the first openly gay partylist, was once banned for supposed immorality. That was 2010 — not exactly ancient history. Meanwhile, groups representing consumers, PWDs, commuters, small entrepreneurs, gig workers, and OFWs often get drowned out by “partylist” groups that are little more than proxies for the rich and powerful.

Time for Real Champions to Step Up

This is where genuine progressive forces like Bayan Muna must return to the forefront. Remember, it was Bayan Muna that brought down MAD in 2001, setting a precedent for keeping fakes out of the partylist system. Now, with public trust eroding, they have another chance to lead — this time by cleaning house and shining a spotlight on all the impostors masquerading as champions of the poor.

Reforming the partylist system won’t be easy. It won’t be fast. But a final Comelec ruling canceling Duterte Youth’s registration would be one hell of a start. It would show that we can still fix broken systems, that the Constitution still matters, and that — once in a while — the good guys do get the last word.

Let’s hope the Comelec stands firm. The partylist system might just depend on it.

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