Various youth groups have condemned the Supreme Court’s rejection of a petition to repeal Duterte Youth’s proclamation in Congress.
These include the Liberal Youth Philippines groups, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, the National Union of Students of the Philippines, and the Kabataan Party-list.
According to Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, Duterte Youth brings to Congress not the interest of the youth but the silencing of the youth and sectors that promote transparency and accountability.
“Malinaw na hindi interes ng kabataan ang bitbit ng Duterte Youth, kundi ang interes ng kasalukuyang rehimen na patahimikin ang mga kabataan, estudyante, at lahat ng naniningil ng transparency, accountability sa gitna ng public health at human rights emergencies sa ating bansa,” she said.
(It is clear that Duterte Youth is not carrying the interest of the youth, but the interest of the current regime to silence the youth, students, and all those who demand transparency, accountability in the midst of public health and human rights emergencies in our country.)
The youth groups also called Duterte Youth the fake representative of the youth in the House and one of the leaders in the red-tagging of some student leaders.
SC’s decision rejecting petition to repeal Duterte Youth proclamation condemned
This is after the Supreme Court rejected the petition to repeal the proclamation of Duterte Youth in Congress. According to the court, the petitioners did not prove any wrongdoing or grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Comelec when it issued the certificate of proclamation in favor of Duterte Youth.
The youths also urged the public to join in the send-off to attendees of the Supreme Court‘s oral argument on the issue of anti-terror law on January 29.
There will also be a demonstration on the day of the oral argument on February 2 while a red-letter day rally will be held on February 20.
The Duterte Youth, officially the Duty to Energize the Republic through the Enlightenment of the Youth Sectoral Party-list Organization, is a right-wing youth organization that supports the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
They also campaigned to win a seat in the House of Representatives through party-list representation in the 2019 elections where they secured a single seat.
Congressa meeting of elected or appointed representativesMore (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)