SEVERAL KEY POSITIONS in the Student Council (SC) remain vacant as the campaign period nears its conclusion, with both the San Bigkis Party (SBP) and the San Beda Electoral Board (ELBO) citing structural challenges behind the gaps.
Among the unfilled posts is the Auditor position, while concerns were also raised regarding the visibility and status of candidates for Third-Year and Fourth-Year Batch Representatives.
According to SBP Chairperson John Francis Gangcuangco, the party initially fielded candidates for all positions, including Auditor. However, their candidate was later deemed ineligible due to ambiguities in the implementation of the revised College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) SC Constitution.
“The vacancy for the Auditor position was caused by the lack of publication of the new and revised CAS Constitution,” Gangcuangco explained. “We believed that students from accounting courses were eligible, which led to confusion on our part.”
In response, the party filed a petition for declaratory relief to clarify eligibility requirements, followed by a request to extend the filing of candidacy. Both petitions were ultimately dismissed, leaving the Auditor position vacant.
Despite this, Gangcuangco emphasized that SBP has consistently aimed to present a complete slate. He noted that similar issues had arisen in previous elections, particularly for the Auditor position, due to strict or unclear qualifications.
“As a political party, we always try our best to field all positions,” he said. “However, due to unforeseen circumstances with the rules and regulations, we were unable to complete the slate this year.”
Gangcuangco also pointed to broader structural challenges, including the recent division of CAS and the College of Accountancy and Business (CAB), which has created uncertainty among prospective candidates regarding eligibility and procedures.
On the part of ELBO, Vice Chairperson Faisal Armano clarified that the vacancies will not be immediately filled within the current election cycle. Instead, a special election is the most likely course of action.
“Most likely, there will be special elections, but not after these elections due to time constraints,” he said. “It would be more appropriate to conduct them alongside the First-Year Batch Representative elections next academic year.”
He added that the process for special elections would follow the same procedures as general elections, including party accreditation, filing of candidacy, and campaigning, with adjustments only in the election timeline.
In the interim, responsibility for managing the vacancies will fall under the SC, and not ELBO. According to Armano, council officers may appoint interim representatives or redistribute responsibilities among existing officials.
“ELBO does not manage vacancies,” he clarified. “The Council will decide whether to appoint interim officers or assign responsibilities while positions remain unfilled.”
He noted that previous requirements mandating that the Auditor come from accountancy programs have “contributed to recurring difficulties,” especially following the institutional split between CAS and CAB. Additionally, the limited number of accredited political parties and stricter regulations on independent candidates have narrowed the candidate pool, increasing the likelihood of vacancies.
Despite these challenges, ELBO maintained that its role is limited to overseeing procedures and ensuring compliance with election rules, not influencing candidate participation.
As the election period comes to a close, both SBP and ELBO signaled readiness to address the gaps through future processes, with special elections seen as the primary solution.
“We remain ready to field a candidate if given the opportunity,” Gangcuangco said.
Meanwhile, Armano called on the student community to stay engaged.
“Your vote should reflect the vision you want for the community,” he said.
With no immediate resolution to the vacancies, attention now turns to the next academic cycle, in which special elections may determine who ultimately fills the vacant seats.