by Jillian Velasco
MENDIOLA, MANILA — For the first time in over a decade, an independent candidate will lead the San Beda University – Law Student Government (LSG) following the victory of President Kyle Nathan Nepomuceno in the August 16 elections.
Nepomuceno garnered the highest number of votes from all year levels with a total of 331 votes, beating HUKUMAN standard bearer Jason Anchores’ 203 votes and 34 abstainees.
The victory of the independent third year student, whose platform centered on scholarship grants, two-week exam scheduling and centralized communication, is a first since the dominance of party-affiliated leaders from De Jure and HUKUMAN in the past 10 years.
“Ultimately, it should not matter whether the President is affiliated with a party or not. What’s important is the will to serve and the capability to ensure student welfare,” Nepomuceno said in an interview with thebarrister.
Meanwhile, HUKUMAN clinched six of the 10 council seats, led by wins in both Vice President positions.
Mary Pauline Reyes was elected Internal Vice President with 312 votes, surpassing independent candidate Dalzel Job Erap’s 184 votes and 73 abstainees. Unopposed candidate Jayson Roger Rivera was proclaimed External Vice President with 342 votes against 215 abstainees.
Christian Ramirez will serve as Auditor with 388 votes, outnumbering 169 abstainees.
HUKUMAN bets likewise dominated the batch representative elections, overcoming abstentions across the first to third year levels.
Kent Jasper Majam will serve as the first year representative after overcoming 104 abstentions with 167 votes. Brenda Valle will represent the second year, which returned 94 votes and 50 abstainees. Reynalyn Lizardo is named third year batch representative with 85 votes against 30 abstainees.
Nepomuceno dismissed conjectures of any possible divisiveness coming from the elected HUKUMAN officers.
“Nothing will change. I will lead the LSG with kindness and compassion. While they are part of a certain political party, we have the same intention to effectively serve the students,” said Nepomuceno.
“As their President, I will constantly remind them that my brand of leadership is collaborative, consultative, and transparent. We all have different perspectives, but it is all there for the students – all that matters is we share the same goal,” he added.
Three other independent candidates also won their respective posts to complete the LSG council who will be serving for Academic Year 2024–2025.
Johnard Rey Amante was elected Secretary General with 241 votes, beating HUKUMAN bet Kent Blanco’s 191 votes and 137 abstainees.
Maizha Taup gained 239 votes to win as Treasurer, besting HUKUMAN’s Eudosia Quilao and fellow independent candidate Julianne Prospero who received 175 and 107 votes, respectively, with 48 abstaining.
Fatmah Dimaporo, the lone independent candidate among the batch representatives, will represent the fourth year following a landslide victory of 34 votes to one abstainee.
The San Beda Law – Commission on Elections and Appointments recorded a 59.43% voter turnout in the first onsite elections in five years, with 663 casted votes out of the official 1,114 voting population. The voting turnout increased by nearly four percent since the last LSG elections held virtually last January 2023.
The newly-elected council took their oath of office before Dean Marciano Delson and Vice Dean Francesca Lourdes Señga on August 21, officially succeeding the outgoing LSG officers who served for three semesters.
THE BARRISTER 