Suspected coup plotter Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim on Wednesday protested the Commission on Elections’ decision to disqualify him from the Senate race in May 2010.

Lim, a former commander of the elite First Scout Ranger Regiment, said the Comelec usually disqualifies candidates who are considered troublesome to the ruling authorities.

“I strongly protest the baseless and unconstitutional COMELEC resolution that has questioned my capacity to wage a campaign and nullified my candidacy,” he said in a statement.

He said the poll body disqualified him despite the fact that he is an adopted candidate of three major parties and is faring well in national surveys.

Lim is running under the ticket of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party although he had been also adopted by the Pwersa ng Masa of former President Joseph Estrada, who is also seeking the presidency.

Lim’s spokesman, Belle Enriquez, said they are awaiting the call of another presidential aspirant – Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Bangon Pilipinas Movement – for his formal pledge of support for the Army officer.

The military officer said he has “received thousands of volunteers nationwide and received endorsements from various groups.”

“It is [Comelec's] opinion that I had not proven that I could campaign, much less win in these elections and therefore has concluded that I am no more than a nuisance candidate,” he said.

He added: “As always, I will stand up against this kind of arbitrary and partisan behavior designed to remove the reform-minded and derail our country’s democratic project. This fight is not for me alone. The insidious practice of picking and choosing sympathetic candidates has to end here and now.”

According to Enriquez, they are due to ask the Comelec to reconsider its decision against Lim’s candidacy.

Lim is detained under maximum security at the Camp Crame in Quezon City for rebellion charges and attempted coup d’etat.

In 2003, Lim joined then Navy lieutenant and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other young military officers in taking over the Oakwood Hotel in Makati City to air their grievances against the administration.

In 2007, the same group walked out of their court trial in Makati City and marched to the Manila Peninsula Hotel in the same city calling for the ouster of President Arroyo.

-gmanews