In a media conference in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas characterized Comelec's decision to disqualify him as an injustice to the electorate, a suppression of new politics, and an obvious bias for rich politicians over more qualified middle class leaders. He also announced that he and his legal team will challenge Comelec's decision as arbitrary, capricious, and legally flawed.

"What kind of message is Comelec sending to the Filipino people? Has it come to this, that money and the political organization that it can buy, have become more important than vision, platform, track record, character, outstanding qualifications, and a real passion to birth a new nation?", asked Perlas. "Are we saying that only the rich can be president of this country?"

Nicanor Perlas is a multi-awarded Filipino leader and has a combination of global and national awards unique among presidentiables. He is one of only three Filipinos who has received the prestigious Alternative Nobel Prize in the past 29 years. Only last August 2009, Perlas also received the Manuel L. Quezon Award for Exemplary Governance. Earlier Perlas received The Outstanding Filipino Award and the Global 500 Award of the UN Environmental Program.

These awards noted the positive impact that Perlas has had in the areas of environment, sustainable agriculture, renewal energy, holistic education, sustainable development, equitable economic globalization, among others. These initiatives of Perlas have benefited millions of Filipinos.

Perlas hoped that the Comelec had shed off its past tarnished reputation to become the guardian of genuine and equitable electoral innovation and freedom. Instead Perlas decried that, with its decision, Comelec has become the nation's prime promoter of traditional politics, equating winnability with money and political machinery.

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