Perlas appeals poll ruling: Give new politics a chance

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:29:00 12/22/2009




Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Elections


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091222-243364/Perlas-appeals-poll-ruling-Give-new-politics-a-chance


MANILA, Philippines—Disqualified presidential aspirant Nicanor Perlas has formally appealed the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exclude him from the list of presidential candidates
in the May 10 elections.

Bringing with him about 100 supporters in a show of force, Perlas filed his motion of opposition to the Comelec’s decision to disqualify him as an official presidential candidate.

“Do not be a ‘nuisance.’ Do not prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate and their longing for new politics, thereby making a mockery of the electoral process,” Perlas told the Comelec.

Last week, the Comelec approved the certificates of candidacy of eight presidential aspirants—Sen. Benigno Aquino III, JC de los Reyes, former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Richard Gordon, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Sen. Manuel Villar.

The Comelec disqualified Perlas as a presidential candidate because it doubted that he could wage a nationwide campaign.

Perlas, however, claimed that more important than money and political party was exposure in the national media and on the Internet.

Money and political parties do not necessarily translate into votes, he said.

“Even more important than money and political party is presence and exposure in the national media which reach millions of voters,” he told the Comelec.

Perlas said a candidate could wage a credible national campaign only if he or she could ignite the imagination of the electorate about real possibilities of change in the political landscape and future of the country.

“The candidate can achieve this not only through a political party and lots of money, but through the national media and Internet as well,” he added.

Perlas also told the Comelec that he and his de facto party, the Partido ng Marangal na Sambayanan (Pangmasa), had almost 700 coordinators around the country and more volunteers.

“If the Comelec persists in its mistake, [it] will become an instrument of injustice to the electorate, a suppressor of new politics, a prime promoter of traditional politics and an obvious worshipper of rich politicians over more qualified middle-class leaders who bring vision, integrity and competence to the political life of the nation,” he said. Dona Z. Pazzibugan


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091222-243364/Perlas-appeals-poll-ruling-Give-new-politics-a-chance