USG records two resignations

Before the University Student Government (USG) closes its books for the next batch of officers in the coming elections, the USG has processed two resignations. This year, BLAZE2014 Vice President Bea Yu and 65th ENG Batch Vice President Ina Nazareno resigned from their position, citing academic and personal reasons.

The abrupt resignations of Yu and Nazareno have raised concerns over the complicity of student government officials regarding resignation protocols. News of Bea Yu’s departure, and her subsequent arrival at Singapore had already surfaced well before the Student Government’s Legislative Assembly formally acknowledged her position vacant. Yu left the country for Singapore to pursue a student exchange program.

FAST2011 President Angelo Tiglao notes that he first learned of Yu’s departure to Singapore on social networking sites.

He furthers, “We just knew it based on social media like I realized Bea Yu resigned because her Instagram showed that she was in Singapore already. It gave us a vantage that she resigned already.”

Chief Legislator Carl Au, however, confirms that he received a letter, which expressed Yu’s intent to resign as batch vice president. Bea Yu explains that she addressed a letter to the Legislative Assembly in lieu of a speech because of time constraints.

Yu had to resign instead of filing for a leave of absence, which would expose her to an impeachment case.

Au further explains that a resignation was the best choice to “ensure that an elected office, which was voted by their respective constituents, be present and be able to do their respective duty and function which requires a certain officer to be present in the country and in the university,” citing Article XXIV, Section 5 of the USG Constitution.

Despite the urgency of Bea Yu’s resignation, the Legislative Assembly’s move to officially declare the batch vice presidency vacant encountered delays.

Transition

While several USG officers who asked not to be named sympathized with Yu’s decision, arguing that an exchange student program in Singapore would be hard to pass up, Au acknowledges that her resignation may not have been well received by batch level officers.

According to Au, however, Yu left her vice presidency on good terms and accomplish all of her work in time.

While the LA accepted Yu’s resignation, USG President Jana Cabuhat highlights that her resignation did not follow the right process. According to Cabuhat, before an officer resigns, a letter of resignation must be forwarded to the USG president first. Moreover, the appointment of a replacement cannot be done without the knowledge of the USG president.

Nazareno resigned from her position through the process required by the constitution. The LA received and accepted her resignation for academic concerns. Nazareno tendered her resignation last February 8 to the Chief Magistrate, USG President Jana Cabuhat and the Office of Student Leadership Involvement, Formation and Empowerment (SLIFE).

An LA session was held to decide on the validity of her resignation. Without opposition, the LA accepted her resignation and declared her position vacant.

Nazareno has mixed feelings about giving up her post in the batch government, reflecting that she made the right choice by setting her priorities straight. She, however, laments that she “could have thought of a better way to manage time.”

Aftermath

With endorsements from the college presidents and batch presidents, Rhozabel Rivadeneira, a Legal Management major, took over Yu’s position as BLAZE2014 vice president while Stefie Ong assumed Nazareno’s seat.

65th ENG Batch President Geraldine Tongco admits that prospects for vice presidency were hesitant to assume the post, as “it was a big role to fill.”

Despite the decision to declare replacements, the USG did not release any publicity or announcement of the decision. As a consequence, officials within the USG were confused with unconfirmed information, while the general student body, including the batch governments’ own constituents did not know of the appointment.

Cabuhat acknowledges that even she only came to know replacement after the latter’s appointment.

Tongco, however, clarifies, “As far as I know, official publicity would be coming from a different unit. I’m just waiting for instruction.”

Importance of positions

Batch vice presidents primarily assist their batch president in assessing the needs of their constituent batch. Moreover, batch vice presidents play an integral role in managing batch level activities.

Tiglao, however, argues, “We experienced in the USG a lot of past experiences, even during the time of the Student Council, that people resign and at the batch level, nothing really changes.”

Au furthers, “Resignation is not really a problem. For a lot of officers, [it] becomes a problem if one of the executive board goes on LOA. [It’s] hard to fill in a large position.”

Both candidates came from the ruling party by number of seats, Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon).  Santugon Secretary General Alex Ledesma, however, dispelled any notion that the resignations would have an adverse effect in their campaign this year. Ledesma also insisted that the resignations do not compromise Santugon’s principles because the party values the pursuit of academic excellence, which was the main reason for Yu and Nazareno’s resignation.

Josemari Calleja, Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Services, says that a working feedback mechanism between his office and the University Student Government (USG) has been in place since the start of the academic year.

Working with the School of Economics (SOE) and Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business (RVR-COB) college governments, Calleja is publicizing a feedback inbox, which her personally checks. Calleja’s office, together with the USG Treasurer’s Office, also releases canteen surveys during the third term to determine how services can be improved.