The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has rejected the bid of party-list group Ang Ladlad LGBT Party to join the 2010 national elections, reports GMANews.tv. According to the Comelec, the gay and lesbian party-list group's petition is dismissible on "moral grounds."

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"The definition (by Ang Ladlad) of the LGBT sector makes it crystal clear that petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs," says Comelec in an eight-page resolution. The group was previously denied registration in the 2007 elections, because they allegedly failed to show proof that they represent a "clear sector."

Various passages in the Holy Bible and the Koran were cited by the poll body, which insist that romantic relationships should only be between men and women. It was also asserted that Ang Ladlad espouses sexual immorality, thus violating the Civil Code and the Revised Penal Code.

The Comelec said it is "not condemning" the LGBT community but "cannot compromise the well-being of a great number of people."

Danton Remoto, National Chairperson of Ang Ladlad and is planning to run for Senator in 2010, says in his blog," This is a decision of painfully old men with painfully obsolete ideas on homosexuality. We are in the 21st century already, we are fighting for human rights. They do not know what they are talking about."

Remoto further said that the Comelec ruling is offensive to the LGBT community and an insult to their human rights. He also questioned the Comelec's decision based on moral and religious reasons but the Constitution provides for a separation between the Church and the State.

"Since when did the Comelec become a moral arbiter? The Comelec is a state institution, [it is] not the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines."

"The Comelec has no right to make decisions on morality because it is not a moral or religious institution. It is a political institution, and hence, should confine itself to politics," Remoto said.