UNMASKING MALADMINISTRATION: Local COMELECs’ rogue rules betray spirit of student council elections

Written by: Tobey Calayo and Stefani Sy

12 min readApr 26, 2024

Last March, candidates running for the UST Central Student Council next academic year filed for withdrawal. Explicating a university-wide system that is ‘resistant to reform’ and opening dialogues between the Office for Student Affairs and student leaders after months of censorship controversy, the political landscape of the studentry has achieved its most fraught.

The Thomasian community should, however, also be cautious of rogue rules among their student government as the power vacuum among local Commissions on Elections (COMELEC) flares louder. Local COMELEC units are lamentable and abhorrent in their stark display of carefree authority.

In the College of Science (CS), the Miting de Avance or Tapatan 2024 was scheduled for April 19, 11:00 AM, at the Civil Law Auditorium. However, at 12:16 PM that day, CS-COMELEC announced a shift from Facebook live coverage to online viewing via Google Meet. This sudden change and instability of platforms has remarkably deprived the student body of an accessible way to follow the critical Miting de Avance. The alternative viewing via Google Meet recorded only around 50 participants, which constitutes a tiny fraction of the entire student body population of over 2,000 individuals.

The local COMELEC unit proceeded with the campaign period. Their last update, posted on April 26, 7 AM, includes an apology for their lack of updates following Tapatan 2024. They admitted, “It is within our responsibility to uphold political awareness within the Science community, but we were unable to deliver such avenues to make it possible.” Such notice was made seven (7) days after the event at a critical period when the election is already nearing its end, further highlighting the COMELEC's misaligned decisions.

Posting campaign materials and recaps of the political debate way beyond the campaign period and on the last day of the voting period by the Local COMELEC unit makes the slightest sense since most of the Science community has already exercised their right to vote.

The decision to add a For or Against segment in any Miting de Avance is already a questionable move of election-fair transparency. It implicates binary decisions in critical political issues, which, in essence, must be contextual and justified by any leadership position. Forcing a candidate to choose between black and white is already misrepresentation in itself because what matters is how they arrived at that conclusion.

In the Faculty of Arts and Letters, the only political party, TINDIG-AB, along with four (4) independent candidates, two (2) of them running for the Presidency, has been at the center of infractions and inevitably a temporary disqualification from their Local COMELEC unit. As of recent, the UST Central COMELEC has lifted the temporary disqualification of the incoming AB student council president.

Two of the candidates for the Presidency of the ABSC were interviewed by a CSJ News Correspondent:

In the interview with Mx. Gabrillo, an independent candidate for ABSC President, they question AB-COMELEC's limits of authority and proper due process in investigating infractions and dealing with violations.

In an interview with Mx. Ello, the candidate for ABSC President of TINDIG-AB, they call out the strict hindrances to student leadership by decisions made. They particularly asserted the need to revise crucial legal references such as the UST Students’ Election Code of 2011 (USEC), AB Constitution, and the CSC Constitution.

In the College of Architecture, a student leader source told CSJ that during the Miting de Avance, the promise of using the Beato AVR was not fulfilled because of ‘logistical’ issues with the administration and proper equipment to livestream the event were not utilized. A cell phone was used in lieu of this. The laptop, which was supposed to be used for the live streaming of the event, was seen used by a member of the ARKI COMELEC for academic purposes while the MDA was ongoing, the recording posted the evening after that had less to no engagements.

The student leader who wishes to reveal this anonymously sent pictures confirming the ARKI COMELEC laptop incident. They cited incompetency as a local problem to their college’s election commission. Before the incidents during the campaign period, their local COMELEC unit was seen to be substandard, with lapses from their secretariat leading to the cutback of candidacy filing to only three (3) days, mostly because of their COMELEC’s delay in pushing through with the political party expo.

College of Science presidential candidate Kevin Escosar also acknowledged the lapses in the conduct of a just election. CS-COMELEC opted to post information on the election, given that it is already considered outdated in the given time frame. “We [Lakas-LOOB] were also shocked na biglaang ipinost ito a day before Proklamasyon, and that when we were asking about what transpired, we were told na may apology naman na raw placed in the captions of the said posts,” he said. Apart from this incident, he cited that there were also other instances where CS-COMELEC was apologetic for their actions throughout the campaigning period.

The Thomasian community is not easily restrained; however, institutional shackles have proven to come not only from administrative levels but also from within the student body. Ensuring a strong institution of the studentry means that we should be at the forefront of student democracy not only towards the administrations and other institutional repressions but also from within ourselves and the branches of our student government.

Yes, COMELEC units reserve the right to administer the corresponding regulations to a fair election—but at what cost? Are minor technicalities and poor accountability tantamount to taking away the rights of students to get to know their future leaders?

Full interviews with the UST Central Commission on Elections and the Student Council candidates:

Interview with Noelle Isungga (Chairperson, UST Central Commission on Elections)

1. Is there a guidebook or a technical working document each Local COMELEC unit must follow as they implement the election period, from candidacy to proclamation?

2. Local COMELEC units may be seen as having the liberty to make decisions independently; what is the extent of their decision-making capacities in the giving out and ruling on infractions of any LSC Candidate? Can a candidate or an official party appeal this decision to the Central COMELEC? Does the Central COMELEC accept reports regarding the conduct of Local COMELEC units?

1-2. Both questions can be answered by UST Students Election Code of 2011 (USEC). As supplemented by the IRR Released by the Central Commission.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cGBqzqvdlYINOPbSo5WpyQS4_KD4WT3v/view?usp=drivesdk

For election protests and offenses, Art. III, Sec. 3, Par. (h), (i), and (j), of the USEC.
For decisions rendered by Local COMELEC, it may be appealed to the Central COMELEC, in pursuant to Art. XII, Sec. 7, of the USEC.3.

3. As the Chairperson of the UST Central Commission on Elections, in your viewpoint, how vital are Local COMELECs and their duties in ensuring a fair political climate for the studentry?

Local COMELEC units are essential in ensuring free, fair, just, and honest elections.

Interview with Kevin Karl Escosar (Presidential Candidate of a Political Party, Lakas-LOOB, College of Science)

1. Recently, the Local COMELEC Unit of SCIENCE posted the campaign materials of your political party and your answer to the For or Against statement during the MDA held seven days ago, April 19, given that during that week, the official timeline has transitioned from the campaign period to the end of the proper voting or election period, what are your comments and thoughts on the late posting of the Science COMELEC of this campaign materials?

Our party actually rigorously reviewed through the Implementing Rules and Regulations of both the onsite and online campaign period. It has also been reiterated many times since last week na baka pwedeng ipost rin nila sa pages nila yung campaign materials namin knowing na it is the right of the students to be informed and syempre trabaho yon ng COMELEC. There were several lapses and apologies were given, and we let it slide for the time being given that we did not want to be flagged and we are also advocates for a clean and honest election. However, we were also shocked na biglaang ipinost ito a day before Proklamasyon, and that when we were asking about what transpired, we were told na may apology naman na raw placed in the captions of the said posts. Additionally, the MDA not being livestreamed through Facebook, was an act that needed more proactive measures. As someone who has been a part of event productions in the university, it is really imperative that we secure our internet connection before we promise to stream our said events. But, the connection inside the venue was not stable enough for a livestream. This was “resolved” through the Google Meet viewing, but based on the data, roughly 50 students were in the said meeting so that in itself is already an apparent lack of engagement. I hope that before we advocate for the election of our rightful leaders, we also become accountable of our lapses. Most especially, these past few weeks are crucial for a whole academic year. Gayunpaman, kahit sabihin na nating, "may hindi pa naman nakapagboto," eh, marami na rin ang nakapagvote. Materials were available naman and sana man lang we had MDA Highlights, given na there were also officers of the electoral body present noong MDA, para pang-compensate sa lack of information dissemination.

2. What are your thoughts and comments during the For or Against segment of the MDA? Do you think it has represented your political and leadership stances and will be appropriate in different political issues pertinent to the community?

I am honestly not a fan of this segment. However, we are leaders who shall step up and show up, kaya parte din ng critical thinking ang quick decision-making, despite the limitations na nabigay sa amin. And, we were given the opportunity to explain in 40 seconds regarding our stands about the issues, but these were limited to only selected candidates that the hosts/COMELEC deemed necessary to ask for clarification. This segment though, is a test of our consistency and our values, but I do agree that sociopolitical issues are never binary, because these are REAL-WORLD issues that affect us directly. These issues are rarely dichotomous in reality. Kung titignan lang natin sila as either black or white, nasisimplify natin yung opportunity for discourse and wala nang room for constructive dialogue. Understanding issues fully helps us empathize with others' viewpoints. We need to talk openly about the gray areas to truly grasp what’s going on, especially doon sa issues about the learning modes in the college, as we as students mismo, iba iba ng academic styles. Additionally, given na election period na, it will be conflicting to clarify the stands given na it will be a form of campaigning and advertising for yourself. If April 19 naman ang Miting de Avance, there could have been ample time to post since we were also documented during the segment.

Interview with Gabriel Gabrillo (Independent Candidate for President, Faculty of Arts and Letters)

1. Recently, the AB COMELEC has declared your candidacy temporarily disqualified, which will run way beyond the set UST Proclamation date; as an independent candidate for president, what are your thoughts and comments regarding this ruling?

My team and I are currently tackling the case since there is confusion on both parties, that being my candidacy and AB COMELEC, regarding due process and the limits of authority and definition of the Commission. We are also alleging that nagkaroon din ng violation of due process which we are currently clearing out with the local Commission first. For some reason, the application of laws have changed compared to last year and this year when our own USEC 2011 has not. This became the basis for the disqualification of my candidacy. Halimbawa, I was filed my first offense for sharing the publication material of AB's news publication which is the Flame. This is the first time that a local commission has done so by defining publication materials of News Organizations as "Campaign Material" whereas last year it was okay. With regards to the second offense, this is also the first time that the Commission has implemented that Independent Candidates must remove their online campaign materials. Last year, this was only limited to political parties. I also think that other candidates could agree that we have experienced over-exertion of authority by the Commission by locking behind a bureaucratic approval process the student's right to post a testimony. For the first time, the Commission required all candidates to first have testimonials pre-approved before the students can post them. Otherwise, it would warrant an offense. Hence, you can observe that no candidate in this year's elections posted testimonials. My general thoughts regarding this is that it is a big blow to the Artlets Student Council that more than a majority of its candidates were disqualified over technicalities, wherein we need a Student Council to represent us students, especially when we are in changing times. The Office for Student Affairs is organizing reforms for the University's policies regarding students and it would be a low blow if the University's own liberal arts institution lacks representation. Nevertheless, I believe that both us candidates and AB COMELEC are doing our parts as we see fit and in accordance to the law. Hindi pa tapos ang mga proceedings, and we will continue to fight until everything becomes clear and just in the eyes of the law.

2. What is your message to the student body as the University hurdles in a university-wide election of Local Student Council officials?

I believe that this year's Student Council elections will define how us students will be represented and included in the policy-changes na ginagawa ng University in the near future. With all the issues regarding Students' Rights and Welfare being repressed, especially our freedom of expression, all colleges and faculties need a Student Council who will truly stand for you, represent you, and involve you in the make-or-break changes that will be coming to our University in the near future. How much more ngayon na wala tayong Central Student Council. Hence, I say, choose your candidates wisely. We can learn from the political discourse that is occurring in the Senior High School elections. Be critical about your, or us, candidate's platforms, character, and capacity for student leadership. We need a Student Council that is strong and who can fight for our collective rights, and kayo lang bilang mga estudyante ang makakabuo ng konseho na ganyan through your votes. So, vote wisely, and abstain if you must.

Interview with Justine Ello (Presidential Candidate of a Political Party, TINDIG-AB, Faculty of Arts and Letters)

1. Recently, the AB COMELEC has declared your candidacy temporarily disqualified, which will run way beyond the set UST Proclamation date; as the official candidate for ABSC Presidency of TINDIG-AB, what are your thoughts and comments regarding this ruling?

Personally speaking, I was disheartened by the ruling not only for myself but also for my fellow candidates. One of the reasons why I ran in the first place is to improve the Council not only internally but also on the service we can provide to the Artlets community, safeguarding their rights and providing improved avenues for airing out their grievances and advocacies. It is truly disappointing how trivial violations in campaigning (missing URLs, needing the approval for testimonies, failure in removing posts, etc.), continue to hinder our potential student leaders. Other COMELEC units have differentiated and supplemented additional sanctions apart from those stated in the USEC, ensuring that both major and minor violations have sanctions that are equal in weight.
Additionally, this campaign season only shows us the necessity to revisit and revise important legal references such as the UST Students’ Election Code of 2011 (USEC), AB Constitution, and the CSC Constitution. Even prior to our disqualification, the majority of the student body continues to be apathetic towards not only the politics of our faculty but also the University as a whole. Why? Our outdated legal references and documents continue to hinder us in obtaining robust student representation and structures which only enables the long-running student apathy in the university.
Student leadership is not easy in this University, speaking as someone who has been in a Council setting for almost three years now and also as a student activist. It's frustrating to have to abide by the outdated USEC and continue to have election guidelines that mirror the bureaucratic processes that loom our organizational system. Mahirap maging student leader sa UST, from filing hanggang culmination ng term mo mismo.