By Ivan Obias • April 26, 2025

The Liderato kan Nueva Atenista – Commission on Elections (Lideratos-COMELEC) formally declared a Failure of Elections for Academic Year 2025–2026 after no candidates filed for any position, marking an unprecedented halt in Ateneo de Naga University's student government processes.

In Memorandum No. 2024-2025-016 released on 26 April 2025, COMELEC cited the complete absence of filed certificates of candidacy, including from the sole-accredited political party, Partido Sigwa, until the end of the filing period on 25 April.

However, the memorandum wrongly referenced a non-existent section in the “2024 Amended Constitution.”

COMELEC attributed the lack of candidacies to stricter requirements set by the Office of Student Affairs and delays caused by resignation procedures for current student leaders.

The commission also warned of the problems posed by the absence of a student government, mentioning the alleged gap in representation during Academic Year 2020–2021. This characterization drew immediate pushback from former leaders.

Then-SSG push back

Johannes Andrei Unana, a 2020–2021 SSG officer, criticized COMELEC's framing, arguing it disregarded the significant efforts made during the pandemic, red-tagging threats, and natural disasters. 

In a Facebook post, he highlighted initiatives such as lobbying for the "PASS" grading option, disaster response campaigns, and advocacy for student rights and transparency during their term.

Clarification, apology issued

Later, COMELEC released Memorandum No. 2024-2025-017, apologizing for the earlier phrasing and reaffirming its respect for the efforts of former student leaders. 

The commission clarified that the Failure of Elections was a procedural outcome under the current Electoral Code, not a cancellation of elections. COMELEC also reiterated eligibility rules based on the code.

Next Steps

To address the leadership vacuum, COMELEC has launched a consultation via Google Classroom polls, seeking student input on whether to extend the filing period. They emphasized that the consultation, which will last until 27 April, aims to maintain transparency, student consent, and electoral integrity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ivan Obias

Editor-in-Chief

Ivan Obias writes at the intersection of code and conviction. As Editor-in-Chief of ThePILLARS Publication, he steers the campus press with a steady hand and a sharp pen: chronicling truth, challenging power, and championing stories that matter. A Computer Engineering student by day and a storyteller always, he believes journalism isn’t just ink on paper. It’s a pulse.

Checkout Ivan's other work here

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