Perlas, Gen. Lim appeal disqualification

MANILA, Philippines - Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, an independent presidential candidate disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), assured his supporters yesterday that he would ask the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order to stop the printing of official ballots that exclude his name.

Perlas said he would also appeal the Comelec’s decision that he has no capability to launch a nationwide campaign.

He said the Comelec resolution sent a wrong message to the electorate, and tended to show that only those who have money could run.

Perlas insisted that he has enough volunteers nationwide to help him launch a nationwide campaign in the 2010 elections.

Felix Cabrera Cantal, presidential bet of the Philippine Green Republican Party who was also disqualified by the Comelec, said his lawyers will file an appeal to the poll body and prove that he has the financial capability to launch a nationwide campaign in next year’s elections.

Disqualified candidates have five days to appeal their cases before the Comelec, which has two days to reply on the appeals.

Binay hits disqualification of UNO bet

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, vice presidential bet of the United Opposition (UNO) said the decision of the Comelec to disqualify detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim from running for senator in the 2010 elections is baseless.

Binay, who is also president of UNO, said they would assist Lim in his appeal with Comelec. Lim is a guest candidate of UNO.

“We do not see any basis for the decision of the Comelec to disqualify General Lim. He meets all the qualifications set by law, but more importantly, Gen. Lim has unquestionable integrity and the determination to serve the people,” Binay said.

Binay said the Comelec decision could send the wrong signal that authorities are persecuting the detained general for his political views.

“General Lim is an adopted candidate of UNO and has succeeded in enlisting thousands of volunteers to his campaign. We do not know why the Comelec ignored these facts in deciding to disqualify him,” Binay said.

Lim protested the Comelec decision, describing it as baseless and unconstitutional.

“Despite the fact that I have been adopted by no less than three major parties, climbed up the survey ratings, received thousands of volunteers nationwide, received endorsements from various groups, it is their tainted opinion that I had not proven that I could campaign, much less win in these elections and therefore has concluded that I am no more than a nuisance candidate,” Lim said in a statement.

“It has traditionally been the resort of this agency to negate candidates troublesome to the ruling authorities by disqualifying them and thus preventing the full range of choices that the electorate deserves,” Lim added.

Lim said the Comelec decision was arbitrary and partisan.

Erap confident of Comelec approval

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada expressed confidence yesterday that the Comelec will not disqualify him in the 2010 presidential elections.

“I am confident that the Comelec will bring to life the true essence of our democracy and let the people decide,” Estrada said.

Estrada said his lawyers have already filed his answer to the petitions to disqualify him filed by Elly Pamatong, Evillo Pormento and Mary Lou Estrada.

He is happy that the Comelec has included him in the list of presidential contenders in 2010.

Estrada’s spokeswoman Margaux Salcedo said the pleadings of the petitioners against Estrada’s candidacy are weak in terms of technical and substantive aspect.

“On the technical aspect, there were Comelec requirements that were not attached. Neither does President Estrada’s case fall under any of the grounds for disqualification specified by election law. On the substantive aspect or the constitutional issues, it is argued that the provision in question, Article VII Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, refers only to the incumbent president. And even analyzing the wisdom behind the provision, which is to prevent undue advantage that comes with the powers of the Office of the President, in order to prevent one person from maintaining power in the form of the presidency beyond his term, this does not apply to former President Estrada because he has been out of power for over eight years now,” Salcedo said.

“We hope that the Comelec treats the case of the former president as a unique case because even if he was elected to the presidency, he did not finish his term, something that was not foreseen by the framers of the present Constitution,” Salcedo added

The local recruitment industry reported that the eight presidential candidates are not exciting enough to lure millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to vote in the coming polls.

Recruitment leader Lito Soriano said only few Filipino workers abroad have registered for overseas absentee voting (OAV) because they feel those running in the elections have not presented credible platform of government.

“Our OFWs are looking for more substance from our presidentiables not just one who could help their distressed migrant workers, but who could use their remittances for implementation of better government programs,” Soriano disclosed. With Mayen Jaymalin, Rainier Allan Ronda, Jose Rodel Clapano, Jaime Laude