AS ONE of the youth organizations that formally filed a disqualification case against Duterte Youth before the Commission on Elections on May 27, 2025, Gabriela Youth emphasized the urgency of removing the group from Congress to protect the integrity of youth representation and ensure the safety of young Filipinos.

The group cited Duterte Youth’s consistent support for anti-youth and anti-women policies, its alignment with state forces accused of human rights violations, and its use of congressional power to push a macho-fascist agenda instead of addressing the urgent needs of the sector.

Fran Reyes, national spokesperson of Gabriela Youth, minced no words:

“Duterte Youth is a fraud. They do not represent the dreams, demands, or struggles of the Filipino youth. What they represent is a legacy of red-tagging, militarism, and violence—especially toward women, LGBTQ+ youth, and those who dare to speak out.”

Recent reports have further amplified calls for their disqualification. A high-ranking AFP official was recently exposed for the sexual abuse of junior military personnel—one of many cases pointing to a pervasive culture of impunity within institutions glorified by Duterte Youth. In schools, the same violence is mirrored: a female student from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) came forward after experiencing mental and physical abuse under the ROTC program.

“This is the reality behind the policies Duterte Youth champions,” Reyes said.

“They want mandatory ROTC because it conditions youth to obey blindly, to fear authority, and to accept violence as normal. It is a betrayal of our right to learn, grow, and live without fear.”

Gabriela Youth stressed that genuine youth representation means fighting for access to quality education, protection from abuse, gender justice, and the right to organize—not parroting the lines of tyrants or pushing policies that have harmed generations.

“Our representation must come from our ranks—from students, young workers, LGBTQ+ youth, and young women fighting for liberation. Duterte Youth is not one of us. Their seat in Congress is a seat stolen from the real youth movement,” Reyes added.

Gabriela Youth joins other progressive youth and women’s organizations in filing and supporting petitions to disqualify Duterte Youth as a partylist, calling on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the broader public to uphold the safety, dignity, and genuine representation of young people—especially young women—in our democratic institutions.

“Duterte Youth does not speak for us. They are a mouthpiece for state terror, not a voice for the youth. Their disqualification is not just legal—it is moral and urgent,” Reyes concluded.