The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman concluded its special University Student Council (USC) elections on Wednesday, October 30, securing leaders for critical roles left vacant following the May regular elections, when abstentions outnumbered votes for candidates across all key positions.
In the special elections, Sean Kirby Latorre emerged as Chairperson with 3,747 votes, narrowly surpassing the 3,670 abstentions and beating fellow contender Franz Andrew Ronquillo, who garnered 2,342 votes. For the Vice Chairperson position, Franz Joseph Beltran won with 3,136 votes, outpacing Therese Jan Mangussad with 2,928 votes, 2,390 abstentions, and Ron Dexter Clemente, who earned 1,305 votes.
Of the 12 vacant Councilor seats, only two candidates successfully cleared the abstention hurdle: Kristian Martin Mendoza received 4,225 votes, and Joaquin Buenaflor obtained 3,495 votes.
Unfortunately, the remaining three councilor candidates, Olivia Herrera (3,216 votes), Aimee Denise Ramos (3,188 votes), and Ramon Christian Placido (2,928 votes), fell short of the 3,377 abstentions, leaving ten councilor positions still unfilled.
Additionally, three College Representative seats were filled: Nimra Urielle Gonzalez as representative of the College of Arts and Letters with 459 votes, Arrianel Manoos for the College of Home Economics with 531 votes, and Ruver Matther Abanto representing the College of Science with 566 votes.
The 2024 UP Diliman USC special elections saw a voter turnout of 37.13%, with 9,771 out of 26,315 registered students casting their votes. This marks an increase from the May regular elections, which recorded a turnout of 30.82%.
The University Student Electoral Tribunal will accept post-election protests from October 30 to November 8, with a session from November 4 to 8 to address any issues raised.
Elected candidates are expected to take office during a turnover and oath-taking ceremony on November 18. — with reports from Ivy Montellano and Rex Espiritu