Duterte won’t interfere in Cardema-Guanzon row – Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday said that President Rodrigo Duterte will not interfere with the row between Duterte Youth Party-list nominee Ronald Cardema and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Rowena Guanzon.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Cardema and Guanzon’s feud is between the two of them.
He added that the president will not meddle in the issue as he respects the independence of Comelec and other constitutional bodies.
“The case between Mr. Cardema and Commissioner Guanzon, I think it’s between the two of them,” he said.
“Moreover, the President respects the independence of any constitutional body. The President has not and will not interfere on any function of the Commission as well as other constitutional bodies,” he added.
Guanzon has been vocal about her opposition to Cardema’s nomination as the Duterte Youth Party-list representative and accused the latter as the one behind the threats against her.
Cardema, in turn, accused Guanzon of extortion, which she denied.
The Commissioner also dared the former to file an impeachment case against her.
READ: Comelec 1st division cancels Cardema’s nomination as Duterte Youth party rep
The feud between the two follows the decision of the poll body’s first division to cancel Cardema’s nomination as representative of the Duterte Youth party because the law states that youth representatives must be from 25 to 30 years old.
Instead of having word war, Panelo advised Cardema to file an appropriate complaint against Guanzon to settle the issue. (with details from Rosalie Coz)