The SENTRO La Salle’s candidates for the College of Business Administration (CBAA) Student Council Secretary Jonard Lumba and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Reiben Arcilla withdrew from their candidacy after submitting their letter of withdrawal to the Student Commission on Election (SCE) on April 26.
According to Lumba and Arcilla, the main reason for their withdrawal was the lack of leadership between the secretariats handling them under SENTRO La Salle.
“‘Yong pinaka nag-trigger talaga sa akin para mawalan ng fire na tumakbo is ‘yong leadership sa SENTRO ngayon, ‘yong secretariats. Bukod sa mahirap makipag-communicate sa kanila, parang ako at si Reiben, feeling namin kami na lang talaga ‘yong may gusto [na ipagpatuloy ang pagtakbo],” Lumba said.
Although the secretariats still support their candidacy, Lumba explained that the support given to him and Arcilla was no longer the same compared to the support given by the secretariats before the proclamation of candidates.
“Hindi na namin nararamdaman ‘yong kagaya noong dati na wala pang proclamation, as in, lahat kami sobrang solid. Pero ‘yong talagang problema lang doon is ‘yong leadership lang ng SENTRO ngayon at hindi ng SENTRO as a whole,” Lumba added.
In light of this, Lumba took what happened as an opportunity to prepare himself for the possibilities on the upcoming University Student Elections in 2018.
“Masasabi kong advantage itong nangyari kasi, oo, hindi ako tumuloy sa pagtakbo pero alam ko na ‘yong mga kailangan kong ayusin next year [if ever na tumakbo ako]. Hindi lang ako, SENTRO as a whole. Alam na namin ‘yong possible outcome kapag hindi namin inayos,” Lumba furthered.
Similarly, Arcilla said the “lapses occurred” shall serve as a lesson for the SENTRO La Salle to grow better.
“I think this is not the perfect time to push through sa election. Doon sa pag-withdraw, masasabi kong there are greater opportunities na nag-open sa akin which I think will mold me to become a better leader in the future if ever na tumakbo ako ulit sa election,” Arcilla said.
Lumba and Arcilla confirmed that it is their personal decision to withdraw and that they are still open for possibilities in running for the 2018 University Student Elections still under the SENTRO La Salle.
“Walang nangyayaring away or anything within the political party. There’s just misunderstanding between us (secretariats and members/candidates). And mas maganda kasi kung solid kaming tatakbo ulit (as a slate),” Lumba said.
Meanwhile, SCE Student Commissioner Yna Patricia Tan said that the SCE will accept their decision to withdraw from their candidacy as it is the candidates’ choice whether to continue running or not.
On the other hand, SENTRO La Salle Secretary on Internal Affairs Gerard Narvaez said, “Sa tingin ko, wala naman talagang naging problema [sa leadership] ng political party. Habang nilalakad pa namin ‘yong papers, sinabi ko sa kanila na i-uupdate ko sila kapag nakausap ko na ang SCE. But since hindi ko pa nakakausap ang SCE that time, hindi ko pa sila (Lumba and Arcilla) na-uupdate.”
As of press time, Narvaez mentioned that they will still fight for their right and wait for the results of this year’s University Student Elections.
Pertaining to their further plans this elections, Narvaez said, “If ever man na wala ulit manalo sa USC this elections, sisiguraduhin namin (SENTRO) na hindi ‘yong mga natalong tumakbo sa USC, o SENTRO, SINAG, at RED ang ma-a-appoint. Dahil ang ma-a-appoint ay ‘yong dapat para sa position [at] hindi ‘yong mga taong pipiliin lang ng iba dahil gusto nila or makikinabang sa kanila or dahil susunod sa mga kagustuhan nila.”