Malacanañang on Friday said there is nothing wrong with the reappointment of disqualified party-list candidate Ronald Cardema at the National Youth Commission (NYC), which he previously headed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said it was the decision of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to bring back Cardema to the NYC as one of its commissioners.
“All presidential appointments are by sole and exclusive prerogative of the President. This is in line with the Constitution and no one can question such appointment,” Roque said in an online press briefing on Friday.
He noted the President is not mandated to justify his appointments to the public.
Cardema, who is a known supporter of the President, drew controversy in 2019 after he tried to run a nominee of Duterte Youth party list, which eventually won a seat in last year’s mid term polls.
Last February, the Commission on Election (Comelec) decided to disqualify Cardema as the first nominee of Duterte Youth for being overaged to represent the party list representing the youth sector.