THE UST Central Commission on Elections (Comelec) has proclaimed mechanical engineering senior Kojie Brennan Uy as treasurer of the Central Student Council (CSC) but withheld the proclamation of the candidate vice president because of a disqualification case.
Election officials on Saturday announced that Uy, the only candidate for treasurer, obtained 7,554 votes. Non-votes for the position totaled 3,865.
The lone bet for vice president, legal management junior Rowen Oloresisimo, garnered 8,318 votes, while 3,101 students left their ballots unanswered.
However, Comelec put her proclamation on hold due to a petition questioning her eligibility to run, which was filed during the voting period.
Under Article 6, Section 1 of CSC Constitution of 2003, only incumbent officers of the central or local student council executive boards may run for president or vice president.
Oloresisimo is not an incumbent officer of any student council executive board.
During the “Proklamasyon 2025,” Andrew Guillermo, the Comelec vice chairperson, said the proclamation of the vice president would be on hold until the resolution of the complaints.
“Thus, according to USEC (UST Students’ Election Code) Article 11, Section 1, if an election protest has been filed against any of the elective candidates, his or her proclamation shall be subject to the resolution of the protest,” said Andrew Guillermo, Comelec vice chairperson.
The complaint was filed by Aron Josh Bernaldo of the College of Commerce and Business Administration and Andrei Miguel Alcazar of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences on Sept. 4.
Uy said he would start working on his election pledges right away.
“I have already started the process of materializing my platforms, specifically, starting to layout the framework of each point of the plans I have presented and plotting the content and timeline of each,” Uy told the Varsitarian.
Challenge expected
Oloresisimo told the Varsitarian that while she had expected her eligibility to be challenged, she regarded the petition against her candidacy to be “valid.”
“Honestly, I saw it coming, especially with the Comelec’s executive order not being publicized enough, and it was not widely disseminated in the Thomasian community,” she said.
“I do not take it as an offense on my side. I ran my campaign on my own terms, skills, and experiences,” she added.
Oloresisimo said she was optimistic the Comelec decision would benefit the student body.
“I am hopeful—hopeful that a resolution will be reached that positively impacts the student body and everyone’s interests. Hopeful that this situation will shed light on adding more provisions in the CSC Constitution regarding special elections,” she said.
The vice president and treasurer positions became vacant after Annie Agon assumed the presidency in accordance with the CSC constitution, while no aspirant filed to run for treasurer in the previous CSC election.
A failure of elections was declared after the Central Board did not nominate and proclaim any candidate for vacant positions during a secret ballot voting, resulting in special elections, based on the UST Students’ Election Code.
The Central Comelec held the special elections for the vice president and treasurer positions from Sept. 1 to 6. Sydney Venice V. Berba and Louisse Raye Shara C. Santos with reports from Amanda Luella A. Rivera and Ella Mae A. Sison
