Senatorial aspirant Beth Lopez talks to the media after she failed to file her certificate of candidacy on October 11, 2018 at the Palacio del Gobernador building in Intramuros, Manila. PHOTO by Christia Marie Ramos/INQUIRER.net
On the first day of the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) on Thursday, many people showed up at the Palacio del Gobernador building in Intramuros, Manila to get one step closer to their political dream.
One woman, however, was not allowed to take that step.
Beth Lopez, who claimed to be a former journalist, said she was not permitted to enter the office to file her COC for senator for the May 2019 midterm elections.
She was instead directed by the guards at the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to another building to file her candidacy.
“Alam ko dito magpa-file ng candidacy, pero sabi sakin ng guard, dun (another building across the street) ako sa third floor. Nagpunta ‘ko sa third floor, pero anong nangyari?” Lopez shouted just outside the entrance gates of the Comelec headquarters.
(I know this is the place for filing the certificate of candidacy, but the guard said I should go there [another building across the street]. I went to the third floor, but what happened?)
“Saan ako talaga magfa-file ng COC? Masyado niyo na akong kinakawawa Comelec. Noong tumakbo akong senador, hindi nilagay ang pangalan ko sa balota, sinabi sakin ng guard, dito magpa-file ako ng kandidatura bilang senador ng ating bansa,” she added, seeming frustrated.
(Where should I really file the COC? I was treated badly by the Comelec. When I ran for senator, my name was not included in the ballot. The guard said I should file my candidacy.)
When asked what prompted her to seek a Senate seat, she said she wants to abolish the country’s “useless” laws.
“Kasi po gusto kong magpawalang bisa ng mga lahat ng walang kwentang batas natin (I want the useless laws in our country to be abolished),” Lopez said.
She also noted that she has led petitions to fight for citizens’ rights.
“Matagal na po akong tumutulong sa ating bansa. Ako yung lagi nagpapapirma ng pagtutol para ilaban ang karapat natin, ako yung kumontra sa pasahe sa jeep na P2 kaya hindi nagtataas noon, ang pasahe sa LRT na hindi agad nagtaas, ang tuition fee ng mga estudyante na kontra ko sa CHED nung mga nakaraan taon,” Lopez explained.
(I have been helping our country for a long time. I help in asking people to sign petitions to fight for their rights. I opposed the proposed increase in jeepney fare by P2, the LTR fare, and tuition increase which the students opposed last year.)
“In fact pinuri ako ng Comelec, sinabi sakin ng Comelec nung tumakbo ako bilang senador noon(In fact, the Comelec praised me and urged me to run for senator then)…[They said] you have a meritorious accomplishment as a private citizen, but you can’t bound a nationwide campaign,” she added.
Meanwhile, ecurity forces at the Comelec clarified that the woman was instructed to first secure a copy of the COC application form at the office of Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez at the Education Information Division across the street from Palacio del Gobernador.
They said they do not know why Lopez was not able to secure a copy of the application. Without the said application form, Lopez cannot be allowed to enter the building. /ee
READ: On first day of COC filing, ‘odd’ ones snatch the limelight at Comelec