Farmer seeking board member seat in Bohol is left with P20 after filing COC in Tagbilaran City

In a business suit, Santos Abella, a farmer from Dagohoy town, filed his certificate of candidacy for a seat in the Provincial Board of Bohol province on Tuesday, Oct. 5. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY—With P500 in his pocket, Santos Amaga Abella took a public bus Tuesday to the Commission on Elections provincial office in this city to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for a second district board member.

Abella was clad in a suit while bringing an umbrella.

Since the trip took at least two hours, he arrived at 11:30 a.m. He finished filing his COC at 2:30 p.m. after he completed the documents and had his COC notarized.

He said he paid P300 for notarization. When he went home, only P20 was left in his pocket.

Abella, 59, said he was faithful and willing to serve the people even if he had no money.

“It’s just true service from my heart,” said Abella, a native of Barangay Candelaria in Dagohoy town.

He ran for the same position in the 2016 and 2019 elections.

“I will never give up. If you give up, you don’t believe in your dream,” he said.

Abella, a farmer, said he has 600 coconut trees and banana plants.

Before he left the Comelec office, he performed a song dedicated to the Boholano farmers to the amusement of spectators.

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