MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Human Rights has expressed support for the gay organization, Ang Ladlad, in its bid to join the party-list elections in May 2010, saying homosexuality is part of the diversity of the Filipino culture and must be part of Philippine politics.

CHR Chair Leila de Lima said on Sunday her office would file a motion for intervention before the Comelec in support of the gay organization's move to overturn the decision barring it from seeking congressional representation in the May elections.

It said the decision of a Comelec division smacked of prejudice and discrimination and that it appeared to be a "misplaced edifice of arcane views on homosexuality." In making such decision, the Comelec division exhibited a "retrogressive" manner of thinking towards the issue, said the CHR.

"We do not think that Ang Ladlad seeks accreditation to promote immorality in the country, but to give a voice to a marginalized sector to push for further protection of their rights," she said in a strongly worded statement on Sunday.

"It is a fact that gays are often objects of discrimination through ridicule, contempt and various forms of violence just as this decision clearly illustrates," De Lima continued.

In an eight-page resolution dated Nov. 11, the Comelec's Second Division said Ang Ladlad's petition "must fail" despite the group's fulfillment of election requirements, because the practice of homosexuality offended morals. It also said the group was "tolerating immorality."

"Homosexuality is not a counterculture... Homosexuals are part of the Filipino family and unavoidably must be part of our politics," said De Lima, a known election lawyer before she was appointed human rights chief.

She also pointed out that no governmental policy characterized homosexuality as neither illegal nor immoral, citing the Universal Declaration Human Rights, which stated that "all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law."

"There is and can be no basis in law to deny the registration of the party, directly or indirectly on the grounds of homosexuality... to make assertions based on their homosexuality is patently discriminatory,? she said.

The CHR is set to file a motion for intervention so that it could formally present its views, insights and position on the issue as a "premier" national human rights institution in the country.

"The rights of the lesbians, gays and bisexuals are a human rights issue,? she pointed out.