FOLLOWING THEIR INITIAL bid in the 2024 College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council (SC) General Elections, candidates from San Bigkis Party (SBP), Ella Francesca Clemente and John Michael De Jesus, and Nationalist Youth and Progressive Democrats (NYPD), John Dave Francisco, withdrew their candidacies for Fourth-Year Representative, Vice President for External Affairs, and Second-Year Representative, respectively.
Last April 15, Clemente, a student of the Department of Economics and Public Policy, through a written notice to the San Beda Electoral Board (ELBO), expressed her withdrawal from candidacy as the next fourth-year representative of the SC. Following Clemente’s notice, the ELBO issued Resolution No. 20-2324 resolving to accept her withdrawal from the elections pursuant to Article 6, Section 1 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
“It was a personal decision for me,” shared Clemente, having considered her “various responsibilities in different organizations,” which ultimately became the pivotal factor in her decision to rescind her candidacy. Meanwhile, incumbent SBP Chairperson Arlene Grace Sol expressed her support for Clemente’s decision, recognizing that it was made with a “steadfast dedication to serving the Bedan community.”
In the same resolution, the ELBO denied the petition of Juwan Barbosa, SBP’s vice chairperson, to allow himself to represent substitute candidate, Carlos Gabriel Cruz, a student of the Department of Economics and Public Policy, in filing his CoC. In their decision, the ELBO denied the said petition on the ground that Cruz failed to personally appear before them to file his CoC as required by Section 6, Article 6 of the OEC.
Nevertheless, the ELBO ordered Cruz to personally appear and file his CoC including all pertinent documents stipulated in the Election Code, on or before 12 noon of the day preceding the election.
On the other hand, De Jesus, a student from the Department of Political Science, eyeing the position of Vice President for External Affairs, also submitted his written notice of withdrawal on April 25. On the same day, the ELBO issued Resolution No. 23-2324 accepting the withdrawal of De Jesus from the elections.
Sol declared that De Jesus’ decision to withdraw was met with difficulty as it was made under consideration of “personal health concerns.” “Despite being a responsible candidate, De Jesus faced frequent illness during training which revealed a concerning condition which cannot be disclosed,” added Sol.
Ultimately, SBP stood by his decision to withdraw with commitment in valuing his personal welfare and that of the student body as “health was not just a personal concern but also a crucial aspect of his commitment to serving the student body effectively,” she emphasized.
In the same notice of withdrawal forwarded by De Jesus to the ELBO, Rinoa Somel Sanchez, also a student from the Department of Political Science, was nominated as a substitute candidate for the candidacy position left vacant under the banner of SBP.
Accordingly, the ELBO, through the same resolution, mandated Sanchez to appear and submit her CoC and other pertinent documents stipulated in the election code, on or before 12 noon before the election day.
Having been plagued with two withdrawals from their slate, Sol expressed that, as “disheartening” as it was to witness the withdrawal of Clemente and de Jesus, the party recognized the necessity of prioritizing what is best for the candidate’s “well-being” to enable the best service to the students.
Still expressing optimism, Sol mentioned that Cruz will proceed on filing his candidacy personally as advised by ELBO together with Sanchez as substitute candidates, and on April 27, SBP’s substitute candidates filed for their respective candidacy.
On the side of NYPD, Francisco, who comes from the Department of Legal Management, also submitted a withdrawal of candidacy as the slate’s Second-Year Representative before the ELBO, which was accepted through its Resolution No. 26-2324 last May 2.
Moreover, by virtue of the same resolution, the ELBO declared Robert Dylan dela Paz from the Department of Political Science as a qualified candidate to run as NYPD’s Second-Year Representative in lieu of Francisco.
Below is the updated final list of qualified candidates for the 2024 SC General Elections, issued by ELBO through Resolution No. 26-2324, resolving to declare Sanchez, Cruz, and dela Paz as qualified candidates.
| Position | Candidate Name |
| President | Mari Ernestine Okol (NYPD) |
| Enrique Louise Bonete (SBP) | |
| Vice President for Internal Affairs | Amir Jordan Hussin (NYPD) |
| John Dominic Salonga (SBP) | |
| Vice President for External Affairs | Chriselle Marie Tamares (NYPD) |
| Rinoa Somel Sanchez (SBP) | |
| Secretary-General | Lourenella De Leon (NYPD) |
| Mitziko Claire Yema (SBP) | |
| Treasurer | Phoenicia Drymz Porbusa (NYPD) |
| Lee Saltore (SBP) | |
| Auditor | Jamae Ishi Dimaya (NYPD) |
| Fourth Year Representative | Zhamira Padol (NYPD) |
| Carlos Gabriel Cruz (SBP) | |
| Third Year Representative | Alizea Bernadine Sison (NYPD) |
| Yvann Joshua Sundungan (SBP) | |
| Second Year Representative | Robert Dylan dela Paz (NYPD) |
| Beige Benedict Campbell (SBP) |