Aspirants hoping to succeed the current Supreme Student Government (SSG) made their bids formal on the last day of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filing, Thursday, April 18.

Moreover, only two parties – Antimony and Alliance – will be aiming for the soon-to-be vacated SSG office led by its current president Ms. Dawn Oquino.

But that number could lessen tomorrow, April 18, as the background checking done by the tribunal revealed that some candidates had discrepancies in their applications.

As the overseeing body of the polls, the tribunal’s job description is not only limited to accepting the aspirants’ COCs, but also to screen them through interviews and examine the validity of their candidature. Among the issues unveiled in the background checking is that both parties have candidates who submitted a copy of their grades that are not recognized by the University Registrar – something that is not allowed per the tribunal.

ANTIMONY Party’s presidentiable and current executive secretary of the SSG president Mr. Ralph Condes shared his team’s side regarding the issue.

“Prior requirements kasi ha pag-file is dapat kumpleto an grades. Ha amon kasi part, dire pa kumpleto an amon grades. Nagkaada kami hard time kasi some of our teachers, on behalf of Antimony team, waray an ira mga teachers, on sick leave. Nababaraka kami kay bangin ig-disapprove it amon COC.”

But the candidate who finds his bid most riddled is ALLIANCE’s presidential bet Mr. Kyle Cardeño.

The examination done by the tribunal found out that he was still the English Language Society (ELSoc) chairman when he filed for presidency – which again, something that contradicts Article V Section 3b of the SSG’s Constitution and By-Laws (CBL).

Said condition states that a presidential candidate must ‘not be head/president of any campus organization during his/her candidacy and during his/her term of office.’

Cardeño stated that he wasn’t aware of the said rule but still intends to push through with his candidacy.

“I was not aware na mayda balaod na bawal mag-run… but here we are, running for SSG president. We really need to sacrifice some other things.”

“I really need to resign and to compromise my position for a higher position and serve other students here in EVSU,” he added.

Cardeño, along with the other hopefuls who find themselves on shaky waters, are given until Friday, April 19 to submit the necessary documents to make their candidateship valid.

The campaign period is scheduled to start next, April 22 and will last until the end of the month.

Voters will cast their ballots on May 3 after the conduct of the Miting de Avance set before the election.

Article by Patrick Joseph Dincol.