THE Bedan Electoral Committee (BELCOM) has reaffirmed its exclusive jurisdiction over the Bedista-wide Elections for A.Y 2026-2027, asserting the Committee’s non-recognition of what it describes as “unauthorized parallel electoral processes,” upon the Office of Student Affairs (OSA)’s creation of an ad hoc committee.

In a public notice released on April 17, BELCOM emphasized that it is the sole body mandated under the 2019 Election Code to administer all aspects of the SEC elections—from the filing of candidacies to the official canvassing of votes. The statement follows an email from the OSA directed to the Committee, stating that OSA had created an ad hoc committee earlier that day to facilitate screening and interviews for applicants previously denied candidacy.

After announcing the official candidates for this year's Boto Beda Elections last April 6, records cited by BELCOM show that applicants excluded from the official roster had filed an appeal on the same day, prompting the Committee to conduct a comprehensive review and issue a formal response addressing their concerns. Despite this, the said applicants elevated the matter to OSA, which subsequently issued its own resolution, OSA Resolution No. 2025-2026-001, on April 12 after a meeting with the Committee.

Released on April 13, BELCOM outlined the official guidelines for campaign conduct in accordance with Section 13 of the Election Code, strictly imposing regulations on the prohibition of third parties, select election acts that constitute an offense, and the sanctions on repeated violations, among others. 

Then, on April 15, OSA called for another meeting with the Committee, “effectively questioning” the Committee’s compliance with the mandates issued under the OSA resolution. This prompted an emergency en banc meeting on the BELCOM Executive Board that concluded with the unanimous reaffirmation of their findings and the finality of BELCOM Resolution No. 2025-2026-001. 

Citing Article VIII, Section 1 of the Code, BELCOM warned that attempts to override its authority by establishing a separate or parallel electoral process undermine institutional order and due process. BELCOM further stressed that such actions are not recognized and may be considered a violation of established election protocols

“We are standing our ground not to be difficult, but to ensure that the future Bedan SEC leaders are chosen by the Election Code. We believe the true disservice to the Bedan community would be the abandonment of our rules for the sake of administrative convenience,” the Committee said.

Following the public release, THE BEDAN HERALD reached out to OSA for their stance regarding the proceedings. While no official statement has been made, the Office is set to release a correspondence addressing the notice in the following days.

To resolve the dispute, BELCOM has raised the case to Atty. Juan Ruffo D. Chong, Director of the Tertiary and Graduate Schools, for a final ruling. In the interim, BELCOM directs that election processes undertaken specifically by the ad hoc committee be halted as the concerned parties await the Director’s decision.

In a separate update yesterday, April 18, BELCOM announced a revised list of official candidates following the withdrawal of the ALYANSA External Vice President candidate, Alyssa Love M. Alisangco (II-BSIE). The Committee stated that the roster has been adjusted to reflect the current lineup for the upcoming election period.

The Committee, in an exclusive interview with THE BEDAN HERALD, maintained that the current dispute highlights the need for institutional improvements, with the Committee addressing such procedural gaps for possible reforms in future election cycles. However, it emphasized that any amendments to the Election Code should not be applied during the ongoing electoral period to preserve the integrity of the elections as a whole.

Moreover, BELCOM reiterated its position on the role of OSA, stating that supervisory functions should be limited to ensuring compliance with the existing Election Code only. “Should the ruling allow for a parallel process, it would represent a fundamental shift in the institutional framework of student governance,” the Committee added.