Allegations of administration interference, the withdrawal of a candidate and the filing of similarly worded complaints against the remaining presidential bet have made the upcoming University Student Council elections on March 8, 2024 as the most controversial yet in the history of the Catanduanes State University.
The firestorm was set off by the withdrawal of a candidate for president, AB Political Science student Cristina B. Millare, last Feb. 28.
In a statement posted on her Facebook account, she said that while the support that she received in recent weeks has been overwhelming, it led her to realize that the source of such support is misaligned with the principles she holds dear and the values she envisioned in promoting her candidacy.
“I have come to understand that, just as we safeguard the integrity of student leadership and politics against external pressures, we must also diligently ensure that it remains insulated from undue interference by our own administration,” Millare disclosed, expressing her belief that the university should serve as a bastion of free thought and expression.
“However, recognizing the incongruity between the origins of my support and these foundational principles, I feel compelled to act in accordance with my conscience,” she added in announcing her withdrawal from the race.
The following day, Feb. 29, CatSU President Patrick Alain T. Azanza stridently denied accusations that the administration is meddling in the student polls, claiming that the insinuations are aimed at destroying his good name and reputation.
“Puro man politically-motivated ang hiro kan mga Trapo buda kan trolls ninda na gapakalat na naman kan kabubuwaan,” he wrote in his official FB page.
At a meeting held on the same day upon the president’s request, the CatSU Commission on Elections categorically denied the involvement of President Azanza in the election process but said they are looking into the screenshots of an exchange of messages between Millare and a CatSU employee.
Chairperson Florae Den I. Begornia said the Comelec is committed to upholding the integrity of the elections and safeguarding the rights of all students involved.
It was also clarified that the period for the filing of candidacy would not be extended, leaving PolSci student Virgilio Cortado Jr. as the lone presidential aspirant, and the election will be conducted as scheduled.
On the same day, however, two instructors of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUMSS) reportedly influenced a student to sign a complaint to the Comelec calling for Cortado’s disqualification.
In the report of the CatSU Statesman that was posted on March 2, the still unidentified student claimed that he was called to a meeting in Room 1 of the CHUMMS building and an instructor handed to him a letter listing the student as complainant.
He said he signed the letter as he could not refuse the order of the instructor, who asked him to deliver the same to the Comelec, with copies to be furnished to the Office of the President and the Board of Regents.
It turned out that a similar complaint signed by another individual was sent to the Comelec on the same day, with the two letters exactly using the same words except for the names of the alleged complainants.
The complaints alleged that Cortado violated the USC Constitution by not resigning from his position as Council Spokesperson before filing his bid but the Comelec, in dismissing the complaints, said Cortado submitted a resignation letter two weeks earlier.
Comelec chair Begornia told the Statesman that it was very disrespectful that the alleged complainants did not submit the letters directly to the body but first furnished copies to the president’s office and the BOR.
CatSU Student President/Regent Francine T. Tayo also scored the administration for failing to inform her about two separate meetings it called to respond to Millare’s allegations and that of the two students.
She said that the USC Student President/Regent should be involved in discussions regarding students, adding that in addition to her function as BOR member representing the students, she needs to be involved in matters involving their welfare.
In an interview with the CatSU Statesman and the Tribune last Feb. 29, Cristina Millare named one Mhar Ariz Marino, a Contract of Service employee at the Extension Services, as the one who first approached her to run for president.
Marino forwarded to her a message allegedly from Pres. Azanza assuring support for her candidady, she bared.
Later, she claimed, she was told to contact other faculty members and the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity which she was told will support her.
In another meeting, it was discussed that before the elections, her slate and Tau Gamma Phi members will undergo “keeping” at Azanza’s house, referring to the local practice of isolating a limited number of voters in a secured place prior to a closely-contested election, usually for federation president.
One Sir Ket Tacorda told her that the president would take charge of the colleges and talk to the deans to give her the support of their respective College Student Council presidents.
Outside the Extension Services building, she recalled being asked by Marino if she was aligned to the principles of the CatSU president, with Marino’s girlfriend allegedly threatening her to use their connections once she was no longer “aligned” with Azanza.
Millare said she felt drained after being restricted on her school activities, told to focus on campaigning and posting on social media, and advised to connect with other people.
“Nabanggit niya po si Sir Bo, tinulungan daw po sila ni Jayden noon, siya po ang nagbigay sa kanila ng 10k and magkontak daw po ako dun at humingi akong fund for my campaign,” she recalled.
She was also urged to contact “Sir Bingbong Cabrera” and frat adviser “Mam Mary Ann” to ask for help.
She likewise described as “staged, scripted, and planned” the presidential award recently conferred on her by Dr. Azanza.
The student, however, admitted that she had no direct conversations with the president other than during the conferment of the award.
Just before she made the decision to withdraw her candidacy, Millare said that Sir Mhar accused her of sharing information on the campaign to other people and told her that he had already lost trust in her, adding that he had information that could lead to her expulsion from the school.
In the later part of the interview, Millare admitted that just before the Catanduanes Youth Convergence, she was handed the proposed Constitution and By-Laws of the Catanduanes Knowledge Pantry and was ordered to fake the signatures of some officers in the document.