Ducielle Cardema takes oath as Duterte Youth representative

Ducielle Cardema on Tuesday took oath as representative of the controversial Duterte Youth party-list at the House of Representatives.

Newly-elected Speaker Lord Allan Velasco himself administered the oath for Ducielle, who was accompanied by her husband, former National Youth Commission chair Ronald Cardema.

Ducielle was included earlier in the roll call of members of the House for Tuesday's special session.

JUST IN: Ducielle Cardema takes oath as representative of the Duterte Youth party-list before Speaker Lord Allan Velasco @gmanews pic.twitter.com/a1BcoJmMGs

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) October 13, 2020

This, even as she has not yet taken her oath to officially become a member of the chamber.

Prior to her oath-taking, Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez confirmed to GMA News Online that the certificate of proclamation for the Duterte Youth party-list has already been issued.

"Proclaimed na," Jimenez said.

Ducielle's oath-taking came following a lengthy battle to recognize the legitimate nominees of the Duterte Youth party-list.

Ronald, who was originally the first nominee of the party-list, was disqualified by Comelec First Division for being beyond the age set for being a representative of a youth party-list organization which is just 25 to 30 years old on election day.

Cardema is already 34 years old. Ducielle is 30.

Comelec later approved the substitute nominees of Duterte Youth party-list, namely Ducielle, Guillermo Villarreal, Jr., Krizza Reyes and Robert Garcia.

On September 24, Comelec commissioner Sheriff Abas said four commissioners have already signed the certificate of proclamation for Duterte Youth party-list after its issuance was granted two weeks prior.

He said they were targeting to release the certificate of proclamation "within [that] week."

Some lawyers said they are prepared to challenge the Comelec decision before the Supreme Court.

Apart from Ducielle, Rodolfo Ordanes also took oath as representative of the Senior Citizens party-list, replacing Francisco Datol Jr. who passed away in August after contracting COVID-19.

Like Cardema, Ordanes was also included in the roll call before his oath-taking. -MDM, GMA News