Gay rights activist eyes Senate seat in 2010 polls
KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMANews.TV
11/18/2009 | 11:03 PM
Danton Remoto, head of a gay and lesbian party-list group, will run for senator in next year's elections.
“I will definitely run as senator in 2010. I’ve been invited by two parties to run for senator so I’m not running as an independent," Remoto told reporters Wednesday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila.
He did not disclose the parties that he said are inviting him to their rosters.
Remoto, who said he would file his certificate of candidacy on November 28, was at the Comelec office to appeal the decision denying the party-list accreditation of his group, Ang Ladlad, for allegedly advocating sexual immorality.
He asked Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, head of the poll body's Second Division, to apologize for denying them accreditation based on “moral grounds."
“I think he should say that ‘With all due respect to my Christian brothers and sisters, I apologize for my momentary lapse in legal judgment,’ but I think he will not say that," Remoto said.
In the resolution, the Comelec said that based on the teachings of the Holy Bible and the Koran, the group violates Article 694 of the Civil Code and Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code by “advocating" sexual immorality.
But Remoto said that the Comelec resolution was a misrepresentation of facts and was “contrary" to the Constitution and the laws.
Ang Ladlad said the poll body violated Article II, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution, which says that there should be a separation of the Church and State; and Article II, Section 5, which says that no religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.
“What we are asking here is a more sober, a more serious, rigorous and legally-oriented decision," Remoto said.
In its motion for reconsideration filed with the Comelec Wednesday, the group said that there are no evidence on record that establish their alleged immorality.
“Just as the judicial entity may not suffer moral damages apart from its incorporator, director, officer or any one member, Ladlad may not be deemed to be immoral on account simply of the unsubstantiated belief that its members are engaged in any such immoral practice," the motion read.
No apologies
Ferrer, meanwhile, is not keen on apologizing to Remoto and his group. “Why should I apologize? I’m not crazy, they should be the ones to apologize because they do not understand the resolution."
Ferrer said that the religious texts were only basis for their definition of what is immoral, which he said is in turn prohibited by the law. “I am not trying to impose the bible and my religion."
Ang Ladlad's motion for reconsideration will be elevated to the Comelec en banc. If still denied accreditation, Remoto said they would go to the Supreme Court. - GMANews.TV
“I will definitely run as senator in 2010. I’ve been invited by two parties to run for senator so I’m not running as an independent," Remoto told reporters Wednesday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila.
He did not disclose the parties that he said are inviting him to their rosters.
Remoto, who said he would file his certificate of candidacy on November 28, was at the Comelec office to appeal the decision denying the party-list accreditation of his group, Ang Ladlad, for allegedly advocating sexual immorality.
He asked Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, head of the poll body's Second Division, to apologize for denying them accreditation based on “moral grounds."
“I think he should say that ‘With all due respect to my Christian brothers and sisters, I apologize for my momentary lapse in legal judgment,’ but I think he will not say that," Remoto said.
In the resolution, the Comelec said that based on the teachings of the Holy Bible and the Koran, the group violates Article 694 of the Civil Code and Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code by “advocating" sexual immorality.
But Remoto said that the Comelec resolution was a misrepresentation of facts and was “contrary" to the Constitution and the laws.
Ang Ladlad said the poll body violated Article II, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution, which says that there should be a separation of the Church and State; and Article II, Section 5, which says that no religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.
“What we are asking here is a more sober, a more serious, rigorous and legally-oriented decision," Remoto said.
In its motion for reconsideration filed with the Comelec Wednesday, the group said that there are no evidence on record that establish their alleged immorality.
“Just as the judicial entity may not suffer moral damages apart from its incorporator, director, officer or any one member, Ladlad may not be deemed to be immoral on account simply of the unsubstantiated belief that its members are engaged in any such immoral practice," the motion read.
No apologies
Ferrer, meanwhile, is not keen on apologizing to Remoto and his group. “Why should I apologize? I’m not crazy, they should be the ones to apologize because they do not understand the resolution."
Ferrer said that the religious texts were only basis for their definition of what is immoral, which he said is in turn prohibited by the law. “I am not trying to impose the bible and my religion."
Ang Ladlad's motion for reconsideration will be elevated to the Comelec en banc. If still denied accreditation, Remoto said they would go to the Supreme Court. - GMANews.TV
