IN THE WEEKS leading up to the 2025 College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council (SC) General Elections, three candidates have withdrawn from the race, resulting in two substitutions, leaving a lone contender for the SC Auditor post.
Nicole Janda of the San Bigkis Party (SBP) and Harry Platero of the Nationalist Youth and Progressive Democrats (NYPD) stepped in as substitutes, running for the Second Year Level Representative and Fourth Year Level Representative positions, leaving SBP without a candidate for the Auditor position.
NYPD
Angela Stacey Talens, who initially ran as the Fourth Year-Level Representative under the banner of NYPD, filed the withdrawal of her candidacy on April 2.
Following this written notice, the Electoral Board issued Resolution No. 23-2425 to accept her withdrawal, compliant with Article 6, Section 1 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC). The same resolution was provided for Harry Grant Platero, the substitute candidate for the Fourth Year-Level Representative.
SBP
Following Jotham Camby Co’s notice of withdrawal on March 21 for the position of Auditor under the banner of SBP, the Electoral Board (ELBO) rendered Resolution No. 22-2425, accepting his withdrawal.
In an interview, Co emphasized that the withdrawal was influenced by the “demands” of his third year in the Department of Accountancy and Taxation and the “recent passing of a relative.”
“I felt really sad, I wanted to serve the students and what made me even sadder was the reaction of random people I’d see in San Beda because a lot of people would come near ‘you have my vote’ tapos biglang the next day ‘uy bat di ka na tatakbo, sino na iboboto namin?’ and it made a bigger impact sa withdrawal,” he emphasized.
Nevertheless, the party remained supportive of this decision, saying that “they were very understanding, no pressure, no nothing, it was good.”
In the aftermath, Co has been assisting SBP in finding a suitable candidate, noting the difficult challenge in doing so. “They have to find someone good enough for the students, to lead the students,” he said.
Despite the election being just days away and yet to put forth a candidate for the Auditor position, “We are optimistic, and we will never give up in making our slate full,” said Enrique Bonete, Chairperson of SBP.
Kris Fernandez also filed her withdrawal for the position of Second Year-Level Representative under the SBP slate on April 5 as detailed in Resolution No. 24-2425. She underscored how there were a “lot of factors” that led to her withdrawal which she chose not to disclose. Nevertheless, she holds “no regrets” in her decision to withdraw.
“I knew that I had to step back to give way to a leader that Batch 2028 deserves,” she said.
Under the same resolution, Andrea Nicole Janda was promulgated to run as Second Year Level Representative.
Noting the sudden turn of events, Janda expressed the feeling of “fear and pressure” on fulfilling the responsibilities of a Year Level Representative.
Regardless, she emphasized the willingness to serve the student body. “I’m willing to do everything that I can para mapaalam po sa kanila that there is someone that is willing to serve po for them.”
The Bedan has reached out to Robert Dylan dela Paz, NYPD Chairperson, to shed light on these circumstances; however, he has declined to comment on the situation. Both Harry Grant Platero and Angela Stacey Talens have also yet to respond.