Youth tags solons backing Duterte Youth as bullies

The group in their statement called the leaders of House of Representatives who led in its filing “bullies with ignoble motives for transgressing on the mandate of the COMELEC in order to back their political allies”. (File Photo: SPARK – Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan/Facebook)

Youth activists belonging to Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) condemned on Wednesday the congressmen who filed House Resolution 552 seeking that the Commission of Elections to proclaim the embattled nominees of the partylist group Duterte Youth as winners in the May national polls.

The group in their statement called the leaders of House of Representatives who led in its filing “bullies with ignoble motives for transgressing on the mandate of the COMELEC in order to back their political allies”.

House Resolution 552 was filed by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr., and Deputy Speakers Michael Romero, Rodante Marcoleta, Conrado Estrella, and Eddie Villanueva.

 “The powerful members of the House think they have the right to pressure independent institutions like the COMELEC to release decisions when and how they want speaks to how drunk with power these legislators are. Congressmen, know your place!,” said SPARK spokesperson, John Lazaro.

Lazaro asserted that the youth did not support and vote for Duterte Youth.  He hinted that the votes garnered by  the partylist group resulted from “its blatant opportunism and ties with traditional political clans allied with the Palace”.

“Elections are built on the faith of the people in their candidates. When entities like Duterte Youth are so saddled by legal problems and marred by controversy, it’s hard to have any faith in them. Trust is earned, and Duterte Youth hasn’t earned the trust of the youth. On the contrary, we detest everything they stand for,” Lazaro explained.

He reminded the public of the viral social media images that circulated after the national elections exposing that its members were no longer belonging to the age bracket to be considered part of the youth sector. Lazaro says that most of those in the images are in their fifties and sixties.

“Kahit nga magkaroon ng special run-off election, hindi yan makakapuntos sa botanteng kabataan” he said.

SPARK clarified that only way for the Duterte Youth to earn the support of the youth is to make a complete U-turn from the admistration’s anti-people policies and programs and openly call for the democratization of campuses, end of private sector intrusion in education, and repudiate the fascist clique of Rodrigo Duterte.