Charles Teves
Former COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon and Duterte Youth Party-list Rep. Marie Cardema are trading barbs on social media once again.
On Tuesday, May 24, Guanzon questioned Cardema’s role as a head of a youth sector given her ripe age.
“Isn’t she over 40 now? She is not qualified to represent a youth sector if she is over 40,” she tweeted.
Cardema is currently 32 years of age contrary to Guanzon’s claim of 40.
Isn't she over 40 now? She is not qualified to represent a youth sector if she is over 40. pic.twitter.com/ck0tSG7a0R
— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) May 24, 2022
Guanzon’s tweet came after Cardema said she doesn’t qualify to be a substitute for the current nominee of the Pamilya, Pasyente, at Persons with Disabilities (P3PWD) party-list.
Cardema pointed out that Guanzon attacked president-elect Marcos Jr. during the campaign and quarreled with other commissioners before retirement.
Guanzon also noted that Cardema is unfamiliar with election laws in the country as she highlighted her age again.
She is not an expert in election law and rules. How pretentious.
Isn't she over 40 now? If so then she is disqualified from representing a youth sector PL. Gusto nyo bardagulan ha. #bardagulan— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) May 24, 2022
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Wednesday said it will “enforce the letter of the law” on party-list substitution.
COMELEC Spokesperson John Laudiangco said the polling body has yet to receive the official document for the substitution of P3PWD party-list nominees.
“I cannot preempt any decision of the commission en banc should any document come from the PWD Party-list. What I ensure of is that this sitting commission en banc will really enforce the letter of the law from the Republic 7941 (Party-list Act) and the existing rules,” he told ANC’s Headstart.
Guanzon was not named as among the nominees of the said party-list and the COMELEC has yet to officially announce the winners of the party-list elections.
In 2019, Duterte Youth’s first nominee Ronald Cardema was disqualified by the COMELEC for being overaged. His wife was then included in the new set of substitute nominees on the party-list.
Guanzon is outspoken against the decision which sparked the beef between the two.
