UPLB students rally behind elected chair

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) students have rallied behind their elected student council chair who was denied her post due to alleged unpaid tuition.

The students, led by the incumbent student council officers, submitted on Thursday a letter to the Office of the Chancellor that sought to reconvene the UPLB Central Electoral Board (CEB) and reverse the board’s earlier decision to proclaim Marion Joyce Divino, instead of Ynik Ante, as winner in the University Student Council (USC) elections held on Feb. 22-24.

Ante, garnering 1,479 votes, won by 36 votes against Divino.

The CEB, composed of nine college secretaries, chairs of the college student councils, the Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD) head, and director of the Office of Student Affairs, facilitated the student elections.

In an interview on Friday, Ante said the CEB questioned her being a bonafide UPLB student because she had enrolled in the current semester by issuing a promissory note in lieu of cash payment.

Ante, however, claimed the university registrar had certified her enrollment thus validating her candidacy in the student elections.

She said she had settled her tuition on Feb. 29 as indicated on her promissory note.

“This is offending not just me but the democratic election process. Does this mean the national university does not fairly treat its students who cannot pay (their tuition)?” said Ante, a senior development communication student, who is raised by a single mother.

SOAD head and CEB member Mark Lester Chico, said the board stands by its decision to proclaim Divino.

He refused to comment further, as the matter was being discussed at the Office of the Chancellor. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon