Anger erupted among members and supporters of the Nurses United party-list after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) rejected their application to participate in Election 2022.
Nurses United is just one of 107 party-list groups that failed to get accreditation in the Comelec.
On Monday, members of Nurses United rushed to the Comelec main office in Intramuros to denounce the alleged “injustice” they experienced.
“Napakawalang puso po ninyo… Pinatay niyo kami, pinatay niyo ang pag-asa ng nurses na magkaroon ng pagkakataong lumahok sa pag-aayos ng ating sistemang pangkalusugan,” said Maristela Abenojar, fist nominee and president of Nurses United party-list.
(You are so heartless… You killed us. You killed the hopes of nurses to have the opportunity to participate in fixing our health system.)
Eleanor Nolasco, 4th nominee and secretary of Nurses United, questioned the Comelec for blocking their candidacy.
“Paano nila sasabihing hindi tayo marginalized? Tayo sa mahabang panahon ay binalahura at inapi ng sistemang bulok na ito. At sa panahong gusto na nating lumahok [sa] Kongreso, hindi tayo hinayaan. Tayo ay ni-reject. Hindi ito makatarungan,” said Nolasco.
Comelec rejects Nurses United party-list application for Election 2022
(How can they say we are not marginalized? We have long been despised and oppressed by this corrupt system. And by the time we wanted to participate [in] Congress, we weren’t allowed. We are rejected. This is not fair.)
To date, the Comelec has not yet informed Nurses United of the reason for their disqualification from the group.
According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, there are legal remedies that Nurses United can take.
“It’s their right to say that… What I would recommend is they take the proper legal action. Kung sa tingin nila naagrabyado sila meron silang legal remedy, ipaglaban nila,” said Jimenez.
(It’s their right to say that… What I would recommend is they take the proper legal action. If they think they have been aggrieved, they have a legal remedy. They should fight.)
According to Abenojar, they are ready to question the Comelec in the Supreme Court.
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