10/10/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐ | SGDC prexy cries foul over FSG election, vows response
Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Student Government of Dumaguete City (SGDC) President Reymer John Ferrer reacted to the results of the recent Federation of Student Governments (FSG) election, saying its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were โinvalid.โ
โMaybe we were blinded on how the election was conducted,โ he told The NORSUnian (TN) shortly after the FSG election on Monday, October 6, which took place at the university Quality Assurance Management Center (QUAMC) Accreditation Room.
Ferrer said he was not informed about the process behind the creation and approval of the implementing rules for the election, adding that no meeting or session had been held to deliberate on them.
The student president cited in his reaction that Vice President for Student Affairs and Services (VPSAS) Cesar Estrope was not present during the said election despite a stipulation in the said IRR requiring the presence of the said university official during the election process.
He further said โthere were no proper instructions provided,โ adding that the IRR may have been done by โsila-sila raโ or themselves only. โInvalid na gani, wala pa gi-follow og tarong,โ he added.
Ferrer also told TN he will challenge the recent election by a particular action, saying โwe will question the constitutional validity of the election,โ but refused to elaborate further details as of this writing.
The October 6 FSG election elected Hariette Mae Balde, president of the NORSU Student Government of Mabinay, as the new FSG president and student regent to the NORSU Board of Regents (BOR), while Emerson Garpel of the NORSU Student Government of Bayawan-Santa Catalina was chosen as FSG vice president.
๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ: ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ; ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐น
Meanwhile, in a separate interview moments after the election, Balde said โthereโs a week left to check the IRR, because it was given to us in our group chat (GC).
โAnd all of the presidents were there in the GCโkana kung nibasa pud sa IRR before the event,โ she added.
She also said there was โconsentโ that the presence requirement of the VPSAS was given to the university Student Development Services director, Julio Ventolero. Estrope did not attend the session, but Ventolero was present alongside University Board Secretary June Antonette Lacpao, she said.
Balde further said if those who had concerns with the election rules read it before the conduct of the election, โthen surely there would be corrections, maybe maka-raise silag concerns about that, if ever they have clarifications with that. But then, no one does.
โIf they are really looking for the transparency, then be it. Like, we know already how the election happens, and thereโs no biases with that,โ she added.
Asked about the possibility that the FSG electionโwhich saw her securing the highest position in the federation and a seat in the NORSU BORโwould be challenged by legal means, she said she โwill support [it].
โI just hope na maklaro jud bitaw ang tanan, ing-ana, to avoid confusions with our students as well, kay sa akoa nga side, the election went well, thereโs no bias. Wala ko niingon ani because I was elected, I am saying this because thatโs how I see it,โ Balde added.
โOne thing man jud pud gud is never jud pud baya ko niingon nila nga mu-run ko ani nga position, so ganiha ra jud tu nga nakabalo sila nga I would run for this so I donโt think there would be biases with that,โ she further said.
๐๐ฎ๐ปโ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒโ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ
According to Director Ventolero, who was able to witness the election process, the parliamentary procedures were observed during the said session, but did not personally comment regarding the electionโs IRR.
โAs far as the IRR is concerned, because they were reading [the] IRR, I cannot really tell whether or not the IRR is duly approved by the body, or who made that IRR, how it was made, that I cannot tell. But in accordance with the IRR that was read, and the procedure of the election, so far, okay ra sa akong observation. Pero mao lagi na, validity sa [IRR], wa ko kabalo gyud,โ Ventolero said in a separate interview with TN.
He added that no protest nor debate took place in any part of the session, but said โthey have the right to question, kay kamo man ang constituent body.
โI will let the student govern. So itโs the beauty of that, the dynamics of these all, they will learn, you will learn the proper procedure. And then, kana, ug iya (Ferrer) na isang-at bale, kung mo-complain siya or mo-raise siya o protest, then they have the freedom to do that,โ he added.
โI am supportive of what is for the students. Kung kinsay insakto nila, then mopaluyo ra gyud ko. Dili ko moingong modapig kos niprotesta or modapig ko dirisโakong tan-awon ang proseso in accordance with what is in the constitution ninyo, inyo man na. So tagaan tamoโg freedom to exercise your right,โ Ventolero said further.
๐ข๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ
TN was able to secure a copy of the implementing rules and regulations of the FSG election, fully entitled โImplementing Rules and Regulations for the Election of the Federation of Student Governments of Negros Oriental State University.โ
Its purpose states that it was promulgated โto provide guidelines and procedures for the election of the Federation of Student Governments Executives, as mandated by the Federation of Student Governments constitution, ensuring a fair, transparent, and democratic process.โ
The IRR also outlines candidate eligibility, nomination and speech procedures, election rules, term provisions based on the FSG Constitution, and a special provision indicating if a new Campus Student Government (CSG) president has yet to be elected, the incumbent may still attend and vote in the federation session but cannot run for any position.
In the said rules, all CSG Presidents are automatically nominated, but they have the choice to decline the nomination. The election, determined by the FSG President and witnessed by the Board Secretary and the VPSAS, shall be conducted by secret ballot among all presidents, with the winner decided by majority or plurality vote, and a runoff or rescheduled election held in case of a tie or other contingencies.
The IRR appears prepared by outgoing FSG President and Student Regent Jeev Japin, bearing his e-signature. However, the document lacks details such as the date of adoption, indication of assembly approval, and signatures of other endorsing members.
According to Article IX, Section 3(f) of the FSG Constitution (2024 Edition), โNo law affecting the conduct of NORSU-FSG/NOSRU-CSG elections shall become valid until the Legislative Department of all the NORSU-CSGs has approved it.โ
TN is yet to reach out to Japin and other key FSG leaders during the said session for comment.
| via Niel Benitez, TN Correspondent
