THE ATENEO student body ratified the 2026 Undergraduate Constitution in a plebiscite held concurrently with the 2026 Sanggunian General Elections from March 23 to 27, with 2,031 (90.2%) out of 2,252 participating voters approving the measure.

Following the end of the electoral protest period, the Ateneo Commission on Elections (COMELEC) finalized the results of the plebiscite, referenda, and elections in an April 7 memorandum after the initial results were published on March 28.

Notably, 2,252 (22.3%) out of 10,081 eligible undergraduate students voted in this year’s election. According to the Ateneo COMELEC, this election has the second-highest number of voters for the past 10 years.

Plebiscites and referenda

In the accompanying sectoral referenda, the Scholars’ Sector, the League of Independent Organizations (LIONS), and the Ateneo Sports Coalition (ASC) were reaffirmed as student sectors with 2,167 (21.5%), 2,010 (19.9%), and 1,854 votes (18.4%), respectively. Each sector surpassed the required 10% of undergraduate student voters.

Following recognition from sectoral referenda, sectors are empowered under the Constitution to represent student groups with “distinct needs” in the Sanggunian Central Assembly.

Additionally, pursuant to Article XII, Section 3 of the 2019 Undergraduate Students Constitution, the student-wide plebiscite validated the amendments proposed by the Sanggunian on February 21.

These amendments to the 2019 Undergraduate Constitution aimed to address structural and technical gaps and meet the current needs of the students.

Notably, the Scholars’ Sector and LIONS last held a referendum in April 2023, while ASC first petitioned for sectoral recognition under the Sanggunian in May 2024. Meanwhile, the Constitution was last ratified in March 2019.

Incoming Sanggunian officials

Proceeding to the elections,  incumbent Sanggunian Vice President Jedryc Romero returns to the Sanggunian Executive Council after winning the presidential seat with 1,515 votes (67.3%). He led over abstention with 353 votes (15.7%), followed by Lorenzo de Borja (2 AB POS) with 216 votes (9.6%) and Gregory Kaw (1 BS ME) with 137 votes (6.1%).

The vice presidential seat, on the other hand, remains vacant after abstention received 1,516 votes (67.3%) compared to 700 votes (31.1%) for Sebastian Subia (1 AB POS) from Partido Pandayan.

Likewise, the Dr. Rosita G. Leong School of Social Sciences (RGLSOSS) Representative seat remains unfilled, as abstention led the polls with 790 votes (83.0%) out of 952, surpassing Kyle Doctor (3 AB POS), who received 147 votes (15.4%).

Meanwhile, Lorelie Potencio (3 BFA CW) from the Sulong Atenista Coalition was elected to the School of Humanities Representative seat with 164 votes (80.4%) out of 204 participating voters.

Mikko Salvador (2 BS MA), also of the Sulong Atenista Coalition, will be the next School of Science and Engineering Representative, earning 436 votes (70.3%) out of 620.

For the Scholars’ Sector, Maxene Malabad (3 AB POS) secured the next Scholars’ Sector Representative post, tallying 529 votes (80.4%) from 658 participating scholars in this election.

With the seats for the Vice President, RGLSOSS, John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), and Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD) Representatives still vacant, a Special Election will be held from April 8 to May 2. 

Should a GBSEALD Representative be elected, they will become the school’s first ever representative in the Sanggunian.

In line with the 2026 Revised Electoral Code, candidates who lost to abstention are now eligible to run again in the Special Elections for the same position they previously contested.

Course representatives

In RGLSOSS, Alexia Kyra Abrigo of the Sulong Atenista Coalition secured the 2 AB Dip IR post, winning 22 votes (59.5%) while 13 voters (35.1%) abstained.

Meanwhile, Claire Chiu will represent 2 AB DS next year, winning with 15 votes (88.2%) against one abstaining vote (5.9%).

Following a similar result, Kai Cabrera was elected the 2 AB EC-H course representative, receiving all three votes (100%) cast by participating voters.

On the other hand, there will be no 2 AB HI course representative, as six abstaining votes (75.0%) led over one vote (12.5%) for Juhann Miguel Rodriguez of the Sulong Atenista Coalition.

Bella Naval of the same coalition will represent 2 AB SOCIO next academic year, winning 14 votes (77.8%) against four (22.2%) abstaining votes.

For 2 AB POS, Nikki Calpo earned the representative seat, earning 37 votes (62.7%) against 18 (30.5%) for abstention.

Partido Pandayan’s Embry Nucum will serve as 2 BS PSY’s course representative after garnering 25 votes (67.6%), with 12 (32.4%) for abstention.

Finally, Timo Calimlim won the 3 AB DS course representative position after winning two votes (66.7%) from his constituency.

As for the SOH community, Colin Jugo will become the next 2 BFA TA course representative after claiming a nine-vote sweep (100%) from his coursemates. Thus far, Jugo will be the lone Course Representative in SOH.

Representing SOSE, Sebastian Nañasca won the polls for the 2 BSM AMF representative after winning six votes (60.0%) against four (40.0%) for abstention.

Lastly, the VAL2 Coalition comprising Kieran Vladimir Valmores and Gelly Valencia were elected the 2 BS HS course representatives with 30 votes (44.8%) and 26 votes (38.8%), respectively. Valmores and Valencia overtook Sulong Atenista Coalition’s Matthew Gernan, who had 11 votes (16.4%).

Notably, the results of the 2 BS HS elections have been updated since the March 28 initial memorandum after the Ateneo COMELEC rectified a “coding inconsistency within the automated vote counting system.”

JGSOM and GBSEALD currently have no official student representatives in the Sanggunian CA, as neither school elected a School Representative or course representative.

Similar to the School Representatives, students have an opportunity to run for and elect the vacant Course Representative seats in the upcoming Special Elections.