BAGUIO CITY — The reason used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to justify the denial of the petition for accreditation of “Ang Ladlad,” a party-list group for gays and lesbians, is unconstitutional and uncalled for since it grossly violates the separation of Church and State, Senator Pilar Juliana Cayetano said here Thursday night.

The Comelec disqualified “Ang Ladlad” to participate in next year’s May 2010 synchronized and automated elections on grounds of alleged immorality.

She pointed out the poll body has jurisdiction to approve or disapprove accreditation of a party-list group but it must base its ruling on legal principles and not on religious beliefs nor on its subjective view on what is moral and what is not.

The lady senator joined the snowballing clamor for the Comelec to reconsider its decision denying the petition for accreditation of the gay rights group, citing that they also deserve appropriate representation in Congress.

Cayetano lashed out at Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, the ponente of the decision denying the group’s accreditation as a party-list group, for joking before reporters that “Ang Ladlad” was over represented since there are already many gays and lesbians in Congress.

She said the remark, even if made in jest, is unnecessary and uncalled for since it only affirms his deep-seated prejudice against homosexuals which was reflected in the questionable decision of the Comelec’s second division.