‘Pretenders’ in party list law

What’s all the fuss about former National Youth Commission chair Ronald Cardema sitting as Duterte Youth party list representative?  The objection that he is too old to represent the youth is really a no-brainer.

The Supreme Court has already ruled that a party list representative need not “belong to the marginalized” sector.  It is enough that he espouses an “advocacy” showing concern for those who actually belong in that sector, duh!

Thus, a billionaire gets to be a party list representative for the poor simply because he says his heart bleeds for them. Many such pretenders will occupy congressional seats because the Supreme Court says they can.

Cardema says he also feels young at heart!

REY CHAVEZ ESCOBAR, rc_esco@yahoo.com

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