MANILA, Philippines — On Monday, May 19, 2025, Renee Louise Manda Co, the first nominee of Kabataan Partylist, expressed her approval of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision to suspend the proclamation of Duterte Youth and Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-lists. The suspension, announced during the proclamation of winning party-lists at Manila Hotel Tent City, stems from pending petitions alleging serious violations of election laws by the two groups.


In a statement shared by Inquirer.net on X, Co’s reaction was summed up in a single, Gen Z-inspired word: “Deserve.” The post, which included an image of Co speaking at a podium, quickly gained traction online, with many netizens echoing her sentiment. Kabataan Partylist was officially proclaimed by Comelec, securing its position as a legitimate representative of the Filipino youth in the House of Representatives for the 2025 term.


The Comelec, acting as the National Board of Canvassers, issued the suspension following a recommendation from its supervisory committee on May 17, 2025. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia explained, “Considering the serious allegations raised in the above petitions which involved grave violation of election laws, the National Board of Canvassers resolves to suspend the proclamation of Duterte Youth Party-list and Bagong Henerasyon Party-lists until the speedy and judicious resolution of the petitions filed before the Clerk of Commission.”


Duterte Youth, despite garnering 2,338,564 votes—making it the second-highest vote-getter in the party-list race and eligible for three House seats—faces scrutiny over its registration status. Petitioners, represented by lawyer Emil Marañon III of Trojillo Ansaldo Marañon Law Office, have argued that Comelec records indicate Duterte Youth may not even be a registered party-list group, a claim that has fueled calls for its disqualification. Similarly, BH, with 319,803 votes and eligibility for one House seat, is also under review due to related petitions.


Kabataan Partylist, on the other hand, has a long history of advocating for the youth sector since its formation in 2001, following the Second EDSA Revolution. According to its website, the group aims to “galvanize the Filipino youth’s unity for social change,” focusing on building a society free from corruption, inequality, and social injustice. Renee Co, a 27-year-old youth activist and lawyer from Malabon, has been a prominent figure in this movement. A graduate of political science from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Co previously served as the editor-in-chief of the college publication Sinag and was the chairperson of Kabataan Partylist’s UP Diliman chapter. She also co-convened UP Rises Against Tyranny and Dictatorship (UPRISE), showcasing her commitment to progressive causes.


The suspension of Duterte Youth’s proclamation has sparked varied reactions on X. A user with the handle
@PunchTheLies
emphasized Kabataan’s broader representation, stating, “The Kabataan Partylist represents the youth across the entire country. Unlike Duterte Youth, which, as its name suggests, only represents Duterte-aligned youth.” Others, like
@levy_wong
, celebrated the decision with humor, commenting, “‘unlike Duterte Youth’ GAGGED THEM HAHAHAHAHAHA.” The sentiment was echoed by
@scrapper0530
, who praised Co, saying, “She really speaks for the youth. DESERVE.”


The contrast between Kabataan and Duterte Youth has been a focal point of discussion. While Kabataan has consistently pushed for legislative victories addressing student rights, mental health, and systemic change, Duterte Youth’s alignment with the Duterte political faction has drawn criticism for its narrower scope. The hashtag #DisqualifyDuterteYouth trended briefly on X, reflecting public support for Comelec’s decision to suspend the group’s proclamation.


With the suspension of Duterte Youth and BH, Comelec is set to proclaim only 54 party-list groups with a total of 63 seats for the 2025 term. Akbayan emerged as the top vote-getter with 2,779,621 votes, followed by Tingog with 1,822,708 votes, both securing three House seats each. The final resolution of the petitions against Duterte Youth and BH will determine whether their seats will be reallocated or if they will eventually be proclaimed.


For now, Renee Co and Kabataan Partylist stand as a beacon for the Filipino youth, their proclamation a testament to their enduring advocacy. As
@y_zabel_
aptly put it on X, “DESERVED!”—a sentiment that resonates with many who see Kabataan as a true voice for the next generation.