ONLY ONE political party in the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) received accreditation from the AB Commission on Elections after the UST Students’ Democratic Party failed to meet its minimum membership requirement.
AB Comelec recognized Tindig-UST AB as the lone recognized political party in the faculty in a resolution dated March 8.
“[T]he Commission hereby declares TINDIG-UST AB as the sole accredited and recognized political party within the Faculty of Arts and Letters, boasting a membership of thirty-six (36) individuals,” the resolution read.
Tindig-UST AB was established on Nov. 17 last year.
UST Students’ Democratic Party, the University’s oldest existing political party, secured only 14 individuals, short of AB Comelec’s minimum requirement of 35 members.
“UST [Students’ Democratic Party] cannot be accredited as a political party and is subject to a temporary suspension in accordance with Art. V, Sec. 9. (e) of USEC 2011,” the poll body said.
AB Comelec’s basis for suspension was the political party’s failure to meet its requirements, a violation of Article V, Section 8 (e) of the UST Students’ Election Code of 2011.
“Upon verified complaint of any interested person, party, or motu proprio by the COMELEC, the registration of any political party or any coalition of political parties may be suspended after due notice and hearing on the following grounds: e. All acts analogous to the foregoing,” Section 8, Grounds for Suspension of the University’s election code read.
Registration for political parties in AB ran from Feb. 5 to Feb. 23. F
