A woman is calling out what she describes as discrimination after being told to move her e-bike from a parking space designated for persons with disability (PWD).

MJ Ordoñez said she was at a shopping and dining complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on the morning of July 4 to pick up her 4-year-old son, who has autism, and her sister, who has difficulty walking due to diabetes, both PWDs.

She said she parked in front of the therapy center where her son had a session, in a designated PWD space, before briefly heading to a nearby drugstore. While there, a security guard approached and told her e-bikes were not allowed where she parked.

"Patapos na po akong mamili, dumating po 'yung guard sabi sakin, 'Sa'yo ba yung e-bike?' Sabi ko, 'Opo'. Sabi niya, 'Bawal kasi dun'. Sabi ko, 'Ah, sige, tapusin ko lang itong binabayad ko', Ordoñez said.

"So nag-stay 'yung guard na parang akong may ginawang masama. So andun lang siya sa tabi ko habang nagbabayad ako, hanggang sa natapos ko na po 'yung pagbabayad ko, andun lang siya tinitignan niya lang ako," she added.

Ordoñez said she regularly parks in the area and was surprised to be confronted for the first time. Despite explaining she was picking up PWD family members, she said the guard still told her to leave.

She added that she told the guard they would leave right after she picked up her son and sister. Later, at a nearby fast food restaurant, she said they were again told e-bikes weren’t allowed to park there.

"Another guard approached us, tapos pinapaalis nanaman kami, tapos sobrang pangit pa nung approach, 'Bawal dito, umalis kayo dito, dun kayo mag-park'" she said.

She said she begged the guard to let them stay, explaining that her sister had difficulty walking and that her son might have a meltdown.

"Bawal daw e-bike sa harap, may designated daw na for e-bike parking space sa likod, which is malayo na. Sabi nung guard, 'Kung gusto mo, magreklamo ka sa security office'. Umalis na lang din po ako," she said.

"Iniisip ko, bakit kami pinagtabuyan? Bakit di kami maintindihan? Sinabi ko naman na PWD 'yung mga kasama ko," she added.

According to the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability (Republic Act No. 7277), the state is mandated to ensure a barrier-free environment that allows persons with disabilities to access public and private buildings and establishments.

The Accessibility Law or Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 also states that “parking areas shall be provided with sufficient space for disabled persons to allow easy transfer from car park to ingress/egress levels.”

Ordoñez believes what happened to her goes against the spirit of both laws, especially since there's no mention that only cars are allowed in PWD parking spaces.

"Discrimination po, kasi mga cars lang po pinapayagan nila eh. Nagtitingin po ako at nagbabasa naman about sa law natin. Wala po kasing specific eh, kung ano lang po 'yung car o mode of transportation na pwede sa mga PWD parking spaces," she said.

"Kasi, kung may wheelchair lang po ang allowed at car lang po 'yung allowed, paano po 'yung mga kababayan natin na walang walang pambiling wheelchair o kotse?" she added.

ABS-CBN News has reached out to the management of the commercial complex, which requested to comment the following day as the investigation is still ongoing.

Ordoñez said they also contacted the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to raise the incident and are currently waiting for a response.