TO ADDRESS leadership position gaps in student government, the Sanggunian school and sector representatives passed the Sanggunian Action on Governance in the Situation of Abstention in Government (SAGISAG) Act, allowing the current representatives to oversee units under the President’s office during the period of its vacancy.

John Gokongwei School of Management Representative Jeremiah Lim explained the Sanggunian’s motivations for the Act, revealing that they faced challenges during their transition period after the failure to elect a Sanggunian President in the General and Special Elections last AY 2024–2025.

Lim elaborated that the student government had difficulties in managing its internal budget and coordinating with the Ateneo administration. Moreover, the vacancy also led to unclear supervision of Sanggunian commissions and departments, straining their programs and functions.

With the Act’s passage on July 28, Lim shared that it became effective immediately, with “deactivation” occurring after the Ateneo Commission on Elections (COMELEC) successfully proclaims a President. Notably, only provisions directly related to presidential vacancies are subject to deactivation.

Filling the gaps

Aiming to address the challenges faced by the Sanggunian, the SAGISAG Act formally renames the “Top 6” as the Executive Council (ExeCon) and grants it “collegial authority” as a decision-making body composed of the elected President, Vice President, and school representatives.

This authority allows them to oversee the Commissions and establish Coordinating Units as temporary replacements for the Departments of Budget and Management, Administrative Affairs, External Affairs, and Communications.

“The Executive Council eventually landed on the SAGISAG Act because we felt that it’s legally safe, respects the [undergraduate] Constitution [and] the [presidential] vacancy, […] while mitigating [the vacancy’s] effects to other units,” Lim elaborated.

Lim added that the ExeCon will assume responsibilities like approving project proposals and deciding the structure and recruitment within these units. However, he clarified that the ExeCon’s authority will not extend to powers exclusively granted to the President, such as the veto power.

Check and balance

In upholding accountability, Lim explained that the Act transfers the President’s powers to an impeachable body like the ExeCon, ensuring this authority rests with those answerable to the student body and the Constitution. 

However, this change has already faced legal challenge. Chad Patrick Patron (3 BS PSY), through the Ateneo Office of the Ombudsman, filed a Petition for Declaratory Relief before the Ateneo Student Judicial Court (SJC), questioning the Act’s legality and constitutionality.

Patron argued that the Act violates the 2019 Constitution, which states that “the Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President.” He added that the Act lapsed into law improperly during a period outside regular school days in the academic calendar.

The SJC acknowledged the complaint, but asked for it to be refiled due to “insufficiency in form and substance.” As of writing, the SJC confirmed receiving the refiled petition on August 22, with its acceptance still to be deliberated by the Court. 

Echoing the need to abide by Sanggunian codes, Ateneo COMELEC Chief Commissioner Irah Agdigos hoped that the ExeCon immediately deactivates the Act once a President is proclaimed, especially with the second Special Elections targeted for mid-October.

Furthermore, Agdigos clarified the electoral process, stating that the only “remedy” to a presidential vacancy due to abstention is through special elections.

Beyond the concern over presidential vacancy, Agdigos emphasized that the COMELEC prioritizes transparency, accountability, fairness, and student participation during student elections, stressing that students should decide who can truly represent their interests.

Genuine representation

Building on student participation in elections, students shared their perceptions of the Sanggunian and their motivations to vote.

For one, Alyannah Abarrientos (2 AB POS) emphasized the need to address Sanggunian’s disengagement from the student body to reshape the preconceived notions of “bureaucracy, dysfunction, and burnout” within the student government.

“[The Sanggunian] should provide us with a tangible and concrete outcome of their actions because only then will we know we’re represented. More transparency around […] decision-making would show students that [our] vote matters,” Abbarientos explained.

Meanwhile, Frances Yago (3 AB DS) expressed concerns with the student government’s resources, stating that students are unaware of opportunities such as student academic subsidies.

Aside from these concerns, Abbarientos and Yago shared that students opt to abstain due to unfulfilled Sanggunian promises and the lack of information on candidates and their platforms.

With this, both Abbarientos and Yago stressed that the Sanggunian should actively engage the student body to boost participation, reclaim its role in governance, and rebuild trust as a student government.

Editor’s Note: Upon clarification from Ateneo COMELEC Chief Commissioner Irah Agdigos, she explained that her statement regarding the Act’s immediate deactivation was answered as a student, given that the COMELEC has no jurisdiction over the Sanggunian’s decisions.