Lope faces disqualification for his voter's data problem

A question on his voter's registry has posed a threat for disqualification of the first man who filed last Tuesday his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Cebu City in the May 14 elections.

Thirty-one-year-old Wendell Lope, who used the nickname "Mr. President", indicated in his COC that he is a people's volunteer who is residing on 37-A Zulueta Street at barangay Tinago.

He added that he has been a registered voter of Tinago's precinct number 4530-A but records of the Commission on Elections did not have the surname of Lope for the precinct.

Tinago's Comelec in-charge Annabelle Amoges said, "So far sa akong records, wala man gyud Lope na-register diri. Ambot lang kaha sa ubang presinto," adding that the precinct numbers of Tinago run from 1099-A to 1123-A.

This prompted Amoges to state that she would recommend to Comelec officer Marsel Sarno the declaration of Lope a nuisance candidate and thus, disqualified to run in the elections.

The Freeman checked on Lope's address and found out that he has been living with his relatives in Zulueta Street after his own house was burned down. A relative said that Lope was born in Lutopan, Toledo City but had established his residency in Talisay City.

Reelectionist incumbent Mayor Tomas Osmeña however said he has no intention of filing a disqualification proceedings against the man who is seeking for the city's mayoralty post.

"I'm not going to prevent who will be filing, which technically what I have promised. Even Gringo Honasan wants to file here, okay lang," he said.

Osmeña added that even former Cebu first district representative Jose "Dodong" Gullas, who transferred his residency from Minglanilla to barangay Guba in Cebu City, would not be prevented from running for a position in the city.

"In the end, it should be the people who will decide and not me," Osmeña said.

Gullas, for his part, said he would announce on February 15 if he would run for mayor against Osmeña.

In an interview with The Freeman, Lope said it was "Dodong" Gullas who inspired him to run because the former congressman said Cebu City needs more candidates that are independent and non-traditional.

Lope said that if he wins as city mayor, he would prioritize the medical concerns of the poor, criminality, rebellion, and the city's economy. - Garry B. Lao