WITH the upcoming Student Executive Council (SEC) elections, the Bedan Electoral Committee (BELCOM) released a Notice of Compliance that reminded the students of the “Intervention of an Alien” as written in Section 5 of the Election Code. 

The section defined who are considered as “aliens” which includes non-bona fide students of SBCA, bona fide students who are incumbent members of the SEC, members of The Bedan Herald, holders of elective positions in student organizations, and people not connected with SBCA whose influence may directly or indirectly affect the conduct of student elections. 

These people are not allowed to aid any candidate or political party directly or indirectly and/or participate in or influence any student election in any manner.  The section also includes the prohibition for any “alien” to aid in the creation, design, or production of campaign materials or any form of assistance or support that may influence the outcome of the elections. 

Regarding campaign managers, Daniela Cronico (IV-BSA), BELCOM Chairperson, expressed that there is no explicit provision prohibiting the eligibility of co-curricular and extra-curricular officers to be campaign managers. However, if any officer's position compromises or unduly influences the election, it may be addressed through Article XII Conflicts of Interest and Disqualifications of the election code. 

The committee would deliberate on a case-to-case basis to ensure compliance with general principles of fairness and nonpartisanship. 

Any student from SBCA may raise an issue regarding this matter by reaching out to BELCOM's Facebook page or by emailing them at belcom.sbca@gmail.com. Any candidate or party found guilty of violating this provision will be subjected to appropriate sanctions. 

There would be strict enforcement of this provision to provide equal opportunities for all candidates and to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. "The absence of previous action does not guarantee that violations will go unnoticed in the future," BELCOM stated in their post.