11 April 2016

Ateneo Student Judicial Court

In The Matter of the General Elections of Academic Year 2015-2016
Gian Paulo Alberto V. Soliman
Petitioner
Versus
Ateneo COMELEC
Respondent
To: The Honorable Magistrates of the Student Judicial Court, the concern of the respondent above
named
With regards to the granting of an injunction, the Ateneo Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
wants to inform the Ateneo Student Judicial Court (SJC) that it plans to conduct General Elections
for the Academic Year 2015 2016 on 14 15 April, 2016.
In reply to the petition filed by the petitioner above named, the COMELEC would like to comment
that it is constitutionally mandated to conduct General Elections, pursuant to Article 15, Section
3, Subsection B of the 2005 Constitution of the Undergraduate Students of the Ateneo de Manila
Loyola Schools.
Ateneo COMELEC would also like to say that it has no fault regarding the lack of candidates
running for positions in the General Elections. The political parties IgNITE and CRUSADA
voluntarily decided not to field candidates for this years General Elections. In past elections,
majority of the candidates running belong to either one of these parties; hence, their decision not
to field candidates resulted in this General Elections lack of candidates.
Furthermore, Ateneo COMELEC would like to emphasize that the lack of candidates was not a
result of a lack of action on COMELECs part. On March 18, 2016, COMELEC, through its
official Facebook page, posted a poster announcing the period for Filing of Candidacy for the
General Elections. This post reached 2,389 people. This post was shared by various people,
including members of the Sanggunian.
Lastly, COMELEC would like to state that it has already laid the groundwork for the upcoming
elections. It already has a working voting system for the elections, developed with the aid of
COMPSAT. Furthermore, it has already reserved MVP lobby to serve as a venue for the elections.
It has also acquired three (3) laptops to be used for voting.

Given the aforementioned actions, COMELEC would like to reiterate that it is prepared to conduct
this years General Elections.
Wherefore, the respondent also prays the Court grants what is truly just under the established
premises.
Quezon City, April 11, 2016

(Sgd.) Ma. Patrice G. Gabito

Chief Commissioner
Ateneo COMELEC
patrice.gabito@obf.ateneo.edu
09162935958