By John Reczon Calay
The UP Law Student Government (LSG) Central Board will file an electoral protest to question the proclamation of Juan Paolo Artiaga as law representative to the University Student Council (USC) post before the University Student Electoral Tribunal (USET) on April 28.
The University Student Electoral Board (USEB) declared sole independent candidate Artiaga the winner despite more abstain votes were cast for the position on April 21. Artiaga garnered 174 votes, almost half of the number of abstain votes at 340.
UP Law Electoral Commission (LEC) Chair Michael Trance Nuñez considered the law rep post as a USC position and resolved not to declare Artiaga in the college proclamation of winners. The commission forwarded the matter to the USEB, which then later declared Artiaga as winner.
The LEC carried out the university rulings in electing their representative to the USC. In their statement, the law representative to the USC is not an elective position of the Central Board citing the Law Students’ Constitution. The law representative to the USC is a University Student Council position as provided in the Revised UP Diliman Student Election Code.
Sole candidate Pao Macariola was elected president of the Law Student Government after getting 434 votes. Auds Ng obtained 351 votes for the internal vice president position. Raffy Ricalde earned 345 votes for the external vice president post.
The LEC will administer a special election for the position of treasurer, senior batch representative, and second year batch representative this May 6. Filing of certificate of candidacy will be from April 26-27.
The College of Law registered an 80.21% voter turnout, lower than last year’s 84%.
PRESIDENT
Paolo Dominic “PAO” Macariola (IND) – 434
Abstain – 93
LAW REPRESENTATIVE TO THE USC
Juan Paolo “JUPA” Artiaga (IND) – 174
Abstain – 340
INTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT
Audrey Nicole “AUDS” Ng (IND) – 351
Abstain – 175
EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT
Rafael Romualdo “RAFFY” Ricalde (IND) – 345
Abstain – 179
SECRETARY
Josemario Carlo “CARLO” Magsino (IND) – 296
Abstain – 231
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
Bounteous “BOUNCE” Servito (IND) – 322
Abstain – 205
BATCH REPRESENTATIVES
SECOND YEAR BATCH REPRESENTATIVE
Jermaine “JERMAINE” Garcia (IND) – 72
Abstain – 52
THIRD YEAR BATCH REPRESENTATIVE
Jameela Joy “JOY” Reyes (IND) – 90
Julia Patricia “JULES” Herrera-Lim (IND) – 85
Abstain – 7
SENIOR YEAR BATCH REPRESENTATIVE
Leor Jyle “JYLE” Sulit (IND) – 105
Carlo Angelo “CARLO” Cruz – 51
Abstain – 4
EVENING BATCH REPRESENTATIVE
Franzetta Faye “FRAN” Sanglay (IND) – 82
Michael “MIKE” Guevarra (IND) – 62
Abstain – 13