by Luisa Pineda
Unopposed and independent candidates Carlos Cabaero, incumbent Education and Research Councilor will lead next year’s School of Economics Student Council (SESC) as the new chairperson, alongside incumbent Junior Batch Representative Patricia Morada, as the vice chairperson.
Meanwhile, independent candidate Chito Balindong is the new Economics Representative to the University Student Council after garnering 335 votes besting UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA)’s Rio Dayao who gained 195 votes.
On the other hand, Lemuel Teh, who ran unrivaled, failed to be reelected for the same post as with incumbent Freshmen Batch Representative Ian Serrano, also unopposed, who also failed to clinch the seat for Students’ Rights and Welfare Councilor.
Both fell short by two votes to reach the two-third rule of at least 384 votes.
This is in accordance to Section A of Article XV of School of Economics Electoral Board (SEEB) which requires an unopposed candidate to garner two-thirds of those who voted to in order to be elected.
SEEB will hold the special elections next week to fill in the seven councilor seats and five batch representatives posts, said SEEB Chair Sam Cinco.
The filing of candidacy for the special elections begins April 22.
This year, SE recorded 574 students who voted out of 863 registered voters. The 66.63 percent voter turnout this year is 5.25 percentage points lower than last year’s record of 71.88 percent.
The winners of this year’s SE elections are as follows:
SESC Chairperson
Carlos Cabaero (Independent) 501
Abstain 74
SESC Vice Chairperson
Patricia Morada (Independent) 440
Abstain 135
Econ Rep to the USC
Chito Balindong (Independent) 335
Rio Dayao (Alyansa) 195
Abstain 45
Secretariat Councilor
Lemuel Teh (Independent) 382*
Abstain 193
Marketing and Alumni Relations Councilor
Klarissa Sanches (Independent) 428
Abstain 147
Students’ Rights and Welfare Councilor
Ian Serrano (Independent) 382*
Abstain 193
Sophomore Batch Representative
Kevin Lobo (Independent) 97**
Abstain 24
*Did not meet 2/3 or 66.6667% rule. There were a total of 575 votes. 2/3 or 66.6667% of 575 is 383.33. Therefore, the candidates must have attained at least 384 votes (as 383 is still below 2/3 or 66.6667%). This is in accordance with Article XV, Sec. 5 A of the SEEB Code
**Two Juniors were mistakenly assigned to the Freshmen block at the Halalan UPD System. Their votes were voided for Sophomore Batch Representative. Further, two Freshmen were mistakenly assigned to the Juniors block at the Halalan UPD System. They were asked to vote manually for the Sophomore Batch Representative. (from SEEB FB page)
