UNITED for CIT University

17/05/2026

𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗪𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗩𝗦. 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦

The Union of Nation-builders & Innovators for Transparency, Empowerment, and Development (UNITED) Party formally withdrew their challenge against the CIT-U Supreme Student Government Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in a new statement issued today, May 17, on the party’s official page.

According to their new statement, the Party will no longer challenge the election results for the presidential, secretary-general, and treasurer-general positions in COMELEC’s official notice released in May 16.

“We pursued clarification on the matter of abstentions and plurality,” UNITED said. “We believed, and still believe, that our legal standing was sound. But we also recognize that a constitution is a floor, not a ceiling - and that there is a higher standard of leadership we are called to meet.”

In their previous statement, the Blue Party disagreed with COMELEC’s determination, and referred to the ruling as “withholding the winning candidates” for those positions.

UNITED had cited Article VI, Section 3 of the 2024 Supreme Student Government Constitution in that statement as a basis, which states that the person with the highest number of votes shall be proclaimed elected to the SSG President and Vice President positions, respectively.

Now, in the new statement, UNITED acknowledged the majority abstentions for the three positions.

“The numbers have told a story that no legal argument can rewrite,” they wrote. “A significant portion of the Technologian community withheld their trust.”

“To proceed in the face of that is to govern over students rather than for them,” they continued. “That is a line UNITED is not willing to cross.”

Currently, the Party will await the COMELEC’s recommendation on the best course of action.

“We are one with them in giving the student body full confidence in the electoral process and the leaders before them,” UNITED said.

According to COMELEC’s official notice, only 1,480 (8.54%) out of 17,314 bona fide students voted in the 42nd Supreme Student Government Elections.

More than 50% of voters abstained from voting for the positions of president, secretary-general, and treasurer-general. UNITED candidates ran unopposed for these executive committee positions.

Presidential aspirant Jhojanna Tutong had the highest abstention rate among the three UNITED candidates, receiving only 172 (11.62%) votes, while 1,308 (88.38%) voters abstained.

Secretary-general aspirant Camille Baculi received 532 (35.95%) votes against 948 (64.05%) votes of abstention.

Treasurer-general aspirant Charleez Diloy tallied 696 (47.03%) votes, but fell short, against abstentions by 784 (52.97%) of voters.

The COMELEC is currently deliberating on the appropriate action for these positions.



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Caption by Thomas Jacob Dañas
Layout by Raia Ishe Hahn Cabico

17/05/2026

17/05/2026

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃

Since our founding in 2014, UNITED for CIT University has operated on a single, non-negotiable commitment - that the voice of the Technologians will always come before the ambitions of any party, including our own.

We pursued clarification on the matter of abstentions and plurality. We believed, and still believe, that our legal standing was sound. But we also recognize that a Constitution is a floor, not a ceiling - and that there is a higher standard of leadership we are called to meet.

The numbers have told a story that no legal argument can rewrite. A significant portion of the Technologian community withheld their trust.
To proceed in the face of that is to govern over students rather than for them. That is a line UNITED is not willing to cross.

We are not a rigid party. We did not build this organization to hold on to positions. We built it to build a better student government. And sometimes, building better means stepping back.

To our candidates - we know the weight of what you carried throughout this campaign. The hours, the preparation, the vulnerability of putting yourselves forward for public service. That is never wasted. We are proud of each of you.

Effective immediately, UNITED for CIT University is withdrawing its pursuit of the current election results.

We will await the recommendation of the CIT University - Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to decide what's best for the interests of the Technologians. We are one with them in giving the student body full confidence in the electoral process and the leaders before them.

16/05/2026

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓-𝐔 𝐒𝐒𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂

UNITED respectfully but firmly disagrees with the withholding of the proclamation for our winning candidates for President, Secretary General, and Treasurer General.

Abstention is a protected democratic right but it is not a competing candidate, not a vote against another candidate, and not a legal ground to deny proclamation where the Constitution itself provides that the candidate with the highest number of valid votes shall be elected.

The votes cast in favor of candidates are valid expressions of trust and representation from the student body. These votes cannot simply be set aside by standards not found within the governing law itself.

UNITED stands firm in defending constitutional order, electoral integrity, and the democratic rights of every Technologian.

𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥.