THE UST Central Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released a statement yesterday, December 8, regarding the re-accreditation of political parties for the academic year 2014-2015, whereas only one out of the three existing parties was granted the status.
The Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino (Lakasdiwa) was the sole party able to comply with the requirements, the statement read.
“Regardless of the number of political parties accredited, the COMELEC is still focused on our [sic] obligation to the Thomasian community. That is, to conduct and safeguard a clean, honest and peaceful elections,” said Julia Unarce, chairperson of the UST Central COMELEC.
“We cannot simply picture out and foretell the course of the upcoming elections for the university elections is still months away,” she added.
Lakasdiwa
“In behalf of Lakasdiwa Central, I was really glad after hearing the news,” said Lakasdiwa chairwoman Eula Andrea San Juan. “With the help of my officers and our local units’ chairpersons, we were able to submit everything on time.”
San Juan also assured that her party had no intentions to monopolize the central council system.
“We’re here to provide for the better alternative to our fellow students by giving them leaders that truly work hard and has the passion for service [sic],” San Juan explained.
Inconsistency
Meanwhile, Nathaniel De Leon, chairman of the Alyansa ng Kristyanong Lakas (Aklas) party, said that one of the primary reasons his party was unable to complete the requirements was due to certain discrepancies with the members’ identification cards, which were considered ‘unclear’ based on COMELEC standards.
“Yes, we were given an extension, but the time is just not enough to authenticate signatures coming from different colleges,” De Leon said. “Mas gusto ko na ‘di ma-accredit kaysa naman mag-forge.”
When asked what was in store for Aklas next year, “Hindi kami magpapatakbo ng Aklas people disguised as independent [candidates]; that, I assure you.”
“We will focus on the ground level, especially when corruption exists in local student council level,” the Civil Law student added, referencing to the issue of missing funds within the Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council.
TomasinoWeb attempted to contact Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC) but the party declined to give any statement regarding the issue.
Re-accreditation process
According to the UST Central COMELEC, the subject of re-accreditation is within the bounds of The UST Elections Code (USEC of 2011), which recognizes the right of every Thomasian to organize a political party provided that they first seek registration for newly-organized parties and re-accreditation for previously-accredited parties from the COMELEC.
Among the documentary requirements include the party’s constitution and by-laws; declaration of political creed; a complete list of officers, members and alumni; and a beginning financial statement. Political parties are also required to have a minimum of fifty (50) members, with at least two (2) representatives from at least fifteen (15) colleges, faculties, schools or institutes.
Individual members of each respective party are also obliged to submit clear photocopies of their registration form, front and back sides of their UST ID, and statement of their submission for membership, along with the concerned member’s signature.
The deadline for the submission of requirements was initially set on October 17, 2014, but was given a grace period of two days. Following this, the commission granted an additional period of extension until November 13, 2014 in order for the parties to complete any further deficiencies.
