CONCLUDING WITH 2,143 valid ballots cast, the Ateneo Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released the final results for the 2024 Sanggunian General Elections on March 23, following its announcement of initial results last March 20.

In comparison to the previous year’s General Elections, which collected 1,334 votes or 14.08% of the student body, this year’s Sanggunian elections accumulated up to 22.66% of the Atenean undergraduate students. This year’s elections were conducted both onsite and online, as opposed to the previous year’s fully onsite setup.

Incoming Top 6

Leading the student council for AY 2024–2025 is Lean “Lee” Rosendo (3 BS PSY) as the incoming Sanggunian President, garnering a total of 692 votes. Meanwhile, incumbent Sanggunian school representatives Emmanuel Frodo Uranza (3 BS PSY) and Crystelle Soriano (3 BS MGT) gained 560 and 258 votes respectively. Meanwhile, 539 members of the voter population chose to abstain.

On the other hand, Iver John Delos Santos (2 AB EC-H) won the Vice Presidential seat, accumulating 745 votes as opposed to Jo Mapalad’s (2 AB DS) 714 votes. For this position, 583 students abstained.

As for the school representatives, the sole candidates for the School of Social Sciences (SOSS) and the School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) successfully secured their positions. Namely, SOSS representative-elect Mari Macasaet (2 AB POS) garnered 425 out of 795 votes, while incoming SOSE representative Gian Marquez (2 BS ES) obtained 420 of 515 votes.

Amassing 265 out of 546 votes, John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) running representative RJ ‘Jaye’ Hubilla (2 BS LM) secured the seat for the next academic year. His opposing candidate Aoi Rika Lim (3 BS REnt) accumulated 164 votes, while 117 voters abstained.

Since there was no candidate for the School of Humanities representative, the position remains vacant. The COMELEC is currently discussing whether they will be holding a special election or motion for Course Representative Appointment.

Slate of course representatives

For the upcoming school year, the 2024 Sanggunian General Elections have successfully elected representatives for 27 courses and levels.

All three SOH course representative aspirants successfully obtained their desired positions with 100% votes from their courses: Marielle Nadine E. Espejo (2 AB HUM), Vharon Gatchalian (2 AB PH), and Ame Manansala (4 BFA ID).

In JGSOM, 10 courses have secured their course representatives. The breakdown of the results is as follows:

Both accumulating 46 votes (38.33%), Francesca Cheng and Ashley Wu obtained two seats as 2 BS LM course representatives. Acquiring the third seat is Jairon Lee Mejia (2 BS LM) with a total of 25 votes (20.83%).

For the position of 2 BS MAC course representative, Caitlin Ngo successfully attained the position 16 (94.12%) out of 17 votes.

Meanwhile, 2 BS MGT course representative-elect Vonn Jhenzon S. Puga accumulated 19 (55.88%) out of 34 votes. Incoming 2 BS MGT-H representative Abigail Joy Co Ko Pio, on the other hand, amassed 57.14% votes or 8 out of 14 votes.

As for 3 BS CTM, a total of 21 votes (53.85%) were cast for candidate Zaidamin Haron, earning him the position of next year’s course representative.

Three out of four seats were successfully filled for 3 BS LM course representatives, with Mari Lim, Arabella Isidto, and Gabby Bernardo garnering 72 (40.91%), 57 (32.39%), and 45 (25.57%) votes respectively.

Securing the position for 3 BS MGT representative, Gab Nuñez stood at 24 (63.16%) out of 38 votes. 

Meanwhile, 4 BS REnt representative-elect Onil Santos accumulated 8 (57.14%) out of 14 votes.

Two candidates were able to successfully garner 100% of the votes for their course levels: incoming 2 BS REnt representative Matthew Christian Galang and 3 BS MGT-H representative-elect Kylie Raine Cai.

As for the incoming SOSE course representatives, five aspirants obtained seats for the upcoming academic year. With 21 votes, incoming 4 BS LfSci representative Aaliyah Marie Acosta amassed 100% of the votes for her course level.

Representing 2 BS CpE for next year, candidate Elijah Duran acquired 13 (92.86%) out of 14 votes.

Meanwhile, 2 BS CH-MSE representative-elect Adrian Caminong garnered 88.89% of the votes or 16 out of 18 votes. 

Sole aspirant Borgie Reyes (2 BS HS) earned his seat for his course with a total of 19 out of 24 votes (79.17%).

Railee Seantiel De Vera was hailed as 2 BS MIS course representative after garnering 11 votes out of 14 (78.57%).

For SOSS course representatives, four candidates attained 100% of their course level’s votes: Nikolai Russegger (2 AB HI), Giorgia Orda (2 AB MA-POS), Marie Lee (3 AB HI), and Thirdy Pitero (4 AB EC). 

Incoming 2 AB MEC representative Jacob Tamayo secured his position with 13 (86.67%) out of 15 votes. 

Occupying two out of four seats dedicated to 2 AB POS representatives, Jedryc Romero obtained 42 votes (51.22%), while Kenshin Mamuad accumulated 36 votes (43.90%). 

On the other hand, Erline Gail Zamudio (3 AB EC) stood at 18 votes (94.74%), securing their position.

Taking the seat as 3 AB POS-MPM course representative, Allen Yu earned a total of 13 votes (86.67%). 

Meanwhile, Hyram Yusico and Glenn Laus stood at 33 (58.93%) and 21 (37.5%) votes respectively, securing their position as 3 BS PSY representative-elects. With three seats open, one seat remains vacant.

Given that the results for 3 AB EC-H aspirant Joshua Andrei Limpin ended at a 1–1 vote with abstain or a 50–50 tie, COMELEC stated in a memo that “run-off elections” will occur after the Holy Week break to determine the final results.

Electoral inquiries

Prior to the release of final results, the COMELEC received an electoral inquiry on March 21 regarding the JGSOM representative candidate Aoi Rika Lim and alleged screenshots that circulated. These screenshots showed Lim offering “internship opportunities” and access to a “community of career-driven people” to her campaign ambassadors.

In communication with the COMELEC, Lim clarified that the “internship opportunities” and “community of career-driven people” being referred to pertained to her platforms aimed at establishing these initiatives in the Sanggunian. Hence, the COMELEC deemed the case to be a “simple communication error” and that no offenses were committed.

On March 22, another electoral inquiry was filed concerning the total number of voters for the incoming 2 AB MA-POS representative, Giorgia Orda. Despite allegedly having a total of six votes from 1 AB MA-POS, only three votes were counted in the initial tally. The COMELEC claimed that the three remaining votes may have been voided due to a blank ballot, lack of signature and/or course, and the presence of markings on the ballot.