The UST Faculty Union (USTFU) elections will remain onsite, despite petitions from two parties calling on the USTFU Commission on Elections (Comelec) to adopt a hybrid voting system due to the anticipated “disenfranchisement” of voters.
No online modality was included in the final election guidelines released by the USTFU Comelec, which states that each faculty or college will assign its own polling precincts for the onsite voting on April 28 to April 29.
The Comelec explained in the letter dated April 15 to the Faculty for Academic Integrity and Rights (FAIR) and Sulong parties that formal requests regarding voting modalities should be formalized through a resolution of the USTFU board.
The electoral body said, “the Comelec, in its mandate, implements policies and resolutions as approved by the Board and does not have the authority to initiate or decide on such matters independently.”
Sulong party members slammed the USTFU Comelec for “offloading” their proposal for a hybrid voting system to the USTFU officers and board.
In a press conference on April 25, Sulong member and lawyer Jen Lam-Saludo denounced the Comelec’s failure to adopt a blended voting method amid the ongoing energy emergency due to fuel price hikes.
“Mahirap mag-exercise ng right to vote. Be in touch with reality, look at how many of us will be disenfranchised,” the vice presidential candidate for grievance and complaints said.
Saludo said several academic units had announced a shift to online or the enhanced virtual mode during the two regular election dates.
“Ibig sabihin kung hindi kami makakapunta, or ‘yung mga malalayo, siyempre tatamarin nang pumunta, lalo na mga bagong faculty. Kaya nakakalungkot kasi ngayon pa lang naiisip na namin na hindi 100% ‘yung makukuha naming botante or turnout of votes,” said Katherine Alonday, the Sulong bet for secretary general.
FAIR presidential candidate Prof. Revenendo Vargas, who also called on the USTFU Comelec to allow hybrid voting, said it was “too late for a resolution,” explaining that the petition for a hybrid voting system should have been anticipated by the incumbent USTFU board.
“I am also in favor of hybrid voting because of the situation. Actually, it will be a disadvantage to the candidates of FAIR, lalong-lalo na may mga faculty member na madi-disenfranchise. So I can see the disadvantage,” Vargas told the Varsitarian.
Vargas acknowledged that the Comelec could only enforce changes to the voting process in accordance with the USTFU Constitution and By-Laws.
“While I agree with the inclusion of all members by conducting a hybrid mode of election, let us also try to remember that mayroon ding pagkukulang when it comes to the leadership,” he added.
Vargas recalled that the 2021 USTFU election, in which he ran against incumbent USTFU president Emerito Gonzales and philosophy professor Jove Jim Aguas, was conducted online by virtue of a resolution by the USTFU officers and board.
The Sulong camp, however, claims a number of union board members did not show up for a meeting to pass a resolution calling for a hybrid election.
The Varsitarian obtained a copy of the March 24 resolution, signed by only three of eight board members, including Gonzales.
The first day of onsite voting was on April 25, a special date set for academic staff of the Graduate School and Faculty of Civil Law.
Editor’s note: This story was revised to include additional detail about the proposed union board resolution calling for a hybrid election.
