Perlas, Danny Lim make it to official list of candidates in May polls

(Updated 1:09 p.m.) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday approved the candidacies of environmentalist Nicanor Perlas and detained former Army general Danilo Lim, reversing an earlier decision excluding the two from the official list of candidates in the May 10 national elections. Through Resolution 8743, the Comelec en banc announced that presidential aspirant Perlas and Liberal Party senatorial bet Lim have been included in the final list of candidates for the elections. In the same resolution, the Comelec also denied the oppositions and motions for reconsideration of 89 people who filed their COCs for national posts, including presidential aspirants Oliver Lozano and Elly Pamatong and former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez. According to the resolution, Perlas was allowed to partipate in the presidential race because of his "distinguished track record in public service" and capacity to launch a nationwide campaign through the environmentalist’s "access to national media" and "organized group of persons… who volunteered to support for his bid for candidacy." "This is a historical decision… because it sends a message for really qualified candidates of this country that not only money will be the qualification (to run for an elective post), but the vision for Filipinos," Perlas told reporters on Thursday. Aside from Perlas, financial consultant Vetellano Acosta of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) was also included in the official list of presidential aspirants, raising the number of candidates vying for the highest elective post to 10. Other presidential candidates who were earlier deemed qualified by the Comelec are Senator Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III (Liberal Party), John Carlos “JC" Delos Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), Joseph M. Ejercito Estrada (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino – UNO), Sen. Richard J. Gordon (Bagumbayan), Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby" A.S. Madrigal (independent), Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.(Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Eddie C. Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas), and Sen. Manuel B. Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party).
Lim, meanwhile, adds to the list of 62 senatorial candidates for this year's polls. The former commander of the elite Army Scout Rangers is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame facing rebellion charges before a civilian court and mutiny charges before a military tribunal. "I knew that entering into this fight would not be easy. I did not suffer any illusions that there would be no opposition to my candidacy. But I have laid my trust in the system and in the law, and on this day, we can see that we have trusted well," a statement coming from Lim's camp said. Aside from Lim, three other senatorial aspirants - former Cebu governor Emilio Osmena, KBL's Nanettte Espinosa, and Bangon Pilipinas' Adz Nikabulin - were also deemed qualified by the Comelec. The poll body cited "support of a party machinery" and "known national following" as reasons for approving the candidacies of the four additional senatorial aspirants. The Comelec, through Resolution No. 8713, earlier disqualified Perlas, Lim and 201 other people who filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for national posts from running in the upcoming polls due to their alleged inability to launch nationwide campaigns. [See: Comelec OKs candidacies of 8 presidential, 8 VP, and 58 senatorial bets] - RSJ, GMANews.TV