MANILA--University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan confirmed his disqualification from the UP presidential search.

In a statement released on Monday (October 3), Tan said the UP Board of Regents disqualified him along with three other senior-citizen candidates.

"I intentionally filed my candidacy papers last September 23 to challenge the age requirement of having to complete the 6 year presidency before the age of 70," he said.

The UP presidency is open to candidates who will not be 70 years old by the end of the six-year term in 2023.

Tan will turn 70 in September 2022.

Incumbent UP President Alfredo Pascual will end his term on February 9, 2017.

Tan said he informed the Board of Regents in a letter that "it is wrong to discriminate against senior citizens, who have much to contribute."

Tan added that he feels that the age requirement is "discriminatory" but urged his supporters to keep calm since he will no longer take any further action.

"I do not think there was a conspiracy involved here, as rumors go, but there was, certainly, an unfortunate convergence of interests to impose this age requirement," Tan said.

The ten who had been nominated for the post prior to the disqualifications were:

- DR. CONSOLACION R. ALARAS
- PROF. DANILO L. CONCEPCION
- PROF. GISELA P. CONCEPCION
- PROF. J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III
- PROF. ROWENA CRISTINA L. GUEVARA

- DR. ORLANDO S. MERCADO
- PROF. BENITO M. PACHECO
- DR. ROGER D. POSADAS
- PROF. CAESAR A. SALOMA
- PROF. MICHAEL L. TAN.