Casem, Kelvin Kean V.

What is COMELEC and what I had learned?

The Commission on Elections of Saint Louis University is an independent constitutional and quasi-judicial body of the Kataas-taasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral/Supreme Student Council (KASAMA/SSC). Its principal role is to administer, oversee and enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls within the premises of the university. It mission is protecting the sanctity of the Ballot.

The Commission on Elections (hereto referred as the Commission for brevity) is the over-all governing body exercising functions relative to the conduct of the KASAMA/SSC Elections. Comelec is the central governing and administrative body during the elections of the council. It shall uphold integrity and impartiality in all its dealings. It is the autonomous, democratic, nationalist, and representative student government of Saint Louis University, the authority of which emanates from the students. It recognizes its role in advancing the welfare, ideals, and aspirations of the studentry, and the role of the SLU administration, Faculty, and Personnel in all aspects of human development. It shall endeavor to develop among the studentry a sense of service and responsibility so that they will utilize educational opportunities to the maximum for the unity and welfare of the University populace as well as the Filipino people.

The Commission on election shall have the power to: a. exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over contest relating to the elections, returns and qualifications of the officers of the KASAMA/SSC; b. promulgate and enforce all the rules and regulations relative to the manner and conduct of an election; c. supervise together with the Dean of Student Affairs, Moderator, Adviser of the KASAMA/SSC and the Executive Committee, the conduct of primary elections and administer the election of officers of the KASAMA/SSC; Supplementary Powers and Functions of the Commission on Elections. In addition to the powers and functions conferred upon it by the pertinent provisions of the KASAMA/SSC Constitution and By Laws, the Commission shall have exclusive charge of the enforcement and administration of all laws relative to the conduct of elections for the purpose of ensuring free, orderly and honest elections, and shall: 1.Exercise direct and immediate supervision and control over its officials, members and volunteers. 2.Promulgate rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Code or other laws which the Commission is required to enforce and administer that it may provide and fix in its rules and

regulations. 3.Summon the parties to a controversy pending before it, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum5, and take testimony (subpoena ad testificandum6) in any investigation or hearing before it, and delegate such power to any commissioner of the Commission. In case of failure of a witness to attend, the Commission, upon proof of service of the subpoena to said witnesses, will bar further proceedings and/or interrogation to the witnesses unless otherwise provided by through a COMELEC resolution. 3. Any violation of any final and executory decision, order or ruling of the Commission shall constitute contempt thereof. The punishment7 provided for by the Constitution shall apply. 4. Enforce and execute its decisions, directives, orders and instructions. 5. Prescribe the forms to be used in the election, plebiscite or referendum. 6.Procure any and all supplies, equipment, materials or services needed for the holding of the election, moreover any procurement transaction should be subjected to audit or clearance from the Commission on Audit. 7. Call for special and snap elections and the like should the need arise. 8. Carry out a continuing and systematic campaign through newspapers of general circulation in the university and other media forms to educate thestudents and fully inform them about election laws, procedures, decisions, and other matters relative to the work and duties of the Commission and the necessity of clean, free, orderly and honest electoral processes. 9. Fix other reasonable periods for certain pre-election requirements in order that voters shall not be deprived of their right of suffrage and certain groups of rights granted them in this Code. 10. During the election season, the Commission shall have autonomy in disposing of its budget subject to existing Acts, Rules and Regulations relative to the matter. All necessary disbursements must be made with appropriate resolutions from the COMELEC en banc and many more.

When I joined the comelec I did not expect that it would be a very fun and exciting journey. In joining the comelec I had learned many things also meet new friends and gained new ideas. To have my reflection here are the thing I learned inside and outside of the comelec. Firstly, I realize the essence of volunteerism because in my past time I am not that person who helps in cleaning, fixing and/ or organizing stuffs and now as part of growing up you should be willing and committed in doing things and another event is the election where we committed to work or have a duty for 24h or 1 day . Secondly, in this semester I had managed my time wisely because of going to ssc office every morning to do my duty but there is nothing to do so I used my time in reviewing and reading my notes and many more. Thirdly, I am socially involved, in going to the office everyday you see and meet different people and if you are bored you can have a talk with them. Fourth, I had gained new knowledge and ideas in with my new friends and when I attended those general assemblies. Fifth, I think I my confidence boost up more because of joining the multimedia committee, our work is to interview others and of course I dont forget creativity because this is the first thing that we had done in our committee when we are planning. And lastly, I had inherited the three core values of the comelec which are integrity, credibility, and integrity. There are much more I had learned from the comelec but for now these are the most important ones that I had learned.

Before I said goodbye to my co-members and to the comelec, I would like to thank you them for being always there for me, thank you for the help and thank you for the times that you made us happy and for the fun moments with the whole comelec family. Thank you for all and will miss you all. See you when I see you