The following guidelines reaffirm the publication’s independence from any political party, candidate, or administrative influence to ensure fair, balanced, and critical coverage of the CAS student council elections.
As the official student publication of the College of Arts and Sciences, UP Visayas, Pagbutlak is tasked to cover the CAS Student Council Elections with full editorial autonomy as vested in the 2024 Constitution and By-Laws of Pagbutlak. Anchored in its mandate to serve the student and the Filipino people through responsible, active, and critical journalism, Pagbutlak commits to uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity while advancing our core principle of pro-student and pro-people journalism.
The following guidelines reaffirm the publication’s independence from any political party, candidate, or administrative influence to ensure fair, balanced, and critical coverage of the CAS student council elections.
I. Editorial Independence and Objectivity
A. Pagbutlak shall maintain editorial autonomy and independence in all student council election-related reports, features, and opinion pieces.
B. All reports must be factually accurate, verified, and free from bias favoring any political party or candidate.
C. Editors and writers shall exercise due diligence in fact-checking, framing/angling, and ensuring context-based reporting that avoids misinformation and sensationalism.
II. Candidacy
A. Member/s of Pagbutlak who filed their candidacy for any College Council position shall be given options to either take a Leave of Absence (LOA) or file for resignation. Staff member/s who will run for the elections must submit their LOA or resignation letter to the Editorial Board at least a day before the official start of the campaign period. The status of their LOA and resignation shall take effect immediately after the Managing Editor acknowledges the letter.
Leave of Absence shall produce the following effects:
- Removal from the official communication platforms of Pagbutlak.
- Suspension of all publication duties and exclusion from all activities for the same duration.
- Prohibition from using Pagbutlak’s name, assets, or platforms to further their candidacy.
B. The LOA shall be lifted immediately after the official results are announced by the Student Electoral Board. Should the member lose the election, their return to active duty will be subject to Editorial Board evaluation.
- In the event of member/s winning the student council election, they will be immediately disaffiliated with the Publication.
- If, after their term, they wish to affiliate with the publication, they shall undergo the recruitment process as stipulated in Article X of the 2024 Pagbutlak Constitution and By-Laws.
III. Campaign Participation
A. Members of Pagbutlak, including those on probation, are not prohibited from having political affiliations. However, any direct involvement in campaign activities requires disclosure and filing of LOA or resignation, a day before the official start of the campaign period.
B. Members of Pagbutlak who did not file for LOA or resignation during the election period are prohibited from actively and overtly supporting the candidacy of any person or the campaign of any political party, whether in the CAS SC elections or other college council elections inside the university.
The following are prohibited for all Pagbutlak members:
- Participation in candidates’ or parties’ online and face-to-face campaigns, which shall include participation in distributing or posting campaign materials and partisan participation in assemblies, events or forums, and similar activities, unless on assignment in the Pagbutlak;
- Membership in campaign teams and election committees of any candidate or party;
- Partisan public display of support or disapproval for any candidate and/or party. This includes posting, sharing or reposting, reacting, and commenting on any of their campaign materials;
- Public fraternizing with any candidate, any known official or representative of any political party, and any known officials such as a member of the executive committee, of the parties’ member organizations.
C. Non-party-affiliated involvement in member organizations remains allowed, provided it does not intersect with election activities.
IV. Sanctions
A. Any member who violates any of the above provisions shall be subject to disciplinary action as decided by the Editorial Board.
B. The Editorial Board reserves the right to revise, modify, or repeal any of the above provisions, provided, such changes are announced to the staff.
V. Effectivity
A. These guidelines shall take effect immediately upon official announcement and remain in force throughout the CAS Student Council Election period.
Pagbutlak Editorial Board
The Pagbutlak Editorial Board approved this guideline on April 20, 2025.
Pagbutlak 
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