IN A MEASURE to address recurring issues in the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) student elections, the San Beda Electoral Board (ELBO) implemented reforms to the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), aiming to clarify campaign rules and strengthen election integrity ahead of the next Student Council (SC) polls.

The Revised Code was notified to the Student Organization Council (SOC), Office of the CAS Dean, and Office of the Prefect of Student Activities, last August 6, with the ratification and approval process taking place the day before.

Darlene Pamiloza, Chairperson of the Electoral Board, disclosed that the recently implemented revisions were the product of a three-year process. Although the process began earlier, efforts gained momentum under the previous administration with the support of Prof. Marvin Reyes, PhD, who cited the outdated nature of the existing code.

“For the last administration, around 10–15% lang yung na-start with the Omnibus. And with that, yung transition ngayon is with the new administration.”

Behind the reform 

While reforms were already being planned since the past administration, the need for implementation grew during the last election. ELBO Vice Chair Faisal Armano, who witnessed the impact of the Code’s shortcomings during the previous general election, emphasized how legal loopholes undermined the integrity of the process. 

“From a neutral standpoint, wala naman kami magagawa kasi nga that’s the legal process,” he said. “If may loopholes sa legal process, even if ma-exploit ‘yun or i-weaponize ng kung sino man, we just have to go with it. Kasi nga, ‘yun ‘yun e.”

Armano explained that ELBO’s intention has always been to ensure fair, clean, and credible elections. However, he admitted that this goal was not being achieved because of persistent flaws within the OEC.

He also mentioned that the accumulation of cases and loopholes revealed that the existing code no longer served its purpose: to protect the electoral rights of Bedans and ensure elections reflect their genuine will. 

Revised Code highlights

Leisha Medollar, ELBO Head Commissioner, detailed not only the changes to the code itself but also the internal restructuring of the organization. 

Previously, the Board operated as a single, centralized body with loosely defined roles, resulting in overlapping duties and administrative inefficiencies. 

To address these concerns, the revised code introduces two sub-organs under the ELBO: the Electoral Commission and the Administrative Board. 

Medollar also mentioned that this structural change ensures that “no officer operates beyond their defined authority,” helping prevent ultra vires acts, or those beyond the scope, and streamlining governance within the Board.

In addition to this overhaul, ELBO also formally established the Board of Election Appeals, a separate adjudicatory body tasked with resolving grave offenses. These include serious misconduct such as threats, intimidation, or acts of violence, cases that, the Board emphasized, exceed what a student-led body can reasonably adjudicate. 

Highlighting the potential of the revised OEC to establish more centralized control and scale back administrative interference, Armano said that the framing of the new code was rooted in a desire to establish a more stable and transparent electoral process, one that could no longer be exploited through legal loopholes. 

While acknowledging that past elections may have met legal standards, he argued that legitimacy isn’t just a legal concept; it also depends on whether students feel they are genuine participants in a fair political process. 

“We wanted to make sure that the political process in San Beda reflects not just legality, but genuine student participation free from manipulation and technicalities,” Armano said. 

Pamiloza underscored ELBO’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of all members of the Bedan community, from political organizations to independent candidates and ordinary students. 

“We want to protect all rights. And the way to protect those rights is to protect their right to choose who they want to lead and serve the community. And to do that, it’s the election code that protects and oversees all electoral-related matters,” she said.

The revised OEC will serve as the code guiding the conduct of student elections for the remainder of academic year 2025–2026, including the 2025 first-year representative elections and the 2026 SC general elections.