The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the hearing on the petition to cancel the registration of Duterte Youth party-list on December 18.

Based on the order of the poll body’s Second Division, the hearing is set at the poll body’s session hall at the Palacio del Gobernador building in Intramuros, Manila at 2 p.m.

“Acting on the ‘Petition to Cancel Party-List Registration and/or to Declare Nullity of its Registration’ filed on September 3, 2019, the Commission (Second Division) hereby sets the case for hearing,” said the order dated December 6 signed by Presiding Commissioner Luie Guia that was released.

It also scheduled the marking of evidence on December 17 at the Office the Clerk of the Commission at 9 a.m.

“In no case shall representatives of parties, other than counsel, for purposes of marking be allowed. Further, counsels are requested to prepare their summary of exhibits as a guide during the marking/s,” he added.

Petitioners Reeya Magtalas, Abigail Tan, Raainah Punzalan, and Aunell Angcos asked the Commission to either nullify or cancel the registration of Duterte Youth as a party-list group due to the alleged numerous violations committed.

They added that the group’s registration must be nullified since it was not able to undergo all the required steps in registering with the poll body, specifically on the absence of publication and hearing in the decision of the Commission en banc to grant Duterte Youth’s motion for reconsideration of their petition’s dismissal by the Comelec’s Second Division.

“This is illegal and unconstitutional… This question of the legality of the accreditation of Respondents is crucial as once granted would mean that its registration would be Void Ab Initio. That it is as if it never registered with the Comelec and/or its petition for registration was never granted,” the group said in their 22-page petition.

The petitioners also urged the poll body to cancel the accreditation of Duterte Youth as a party-list organization for allegedly violating existing rules by making false statements in its Petition, particularly on the eligibility of its overaged nominees; having no bona fide intention to represent the sector for which the petition has been filed, among others. (PNA)