The Supreme Court on Tuesday junked a petition seeking to disqualify former President Joseph Estrada from running in next year’s presidential elections.
Radio dZBB’s Teresa Tavares quoted the High Court decision as saying that it is not the proper forum for the petition but the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The petition was filed last week by a group called Vanguard, reportedly headed by one Elio Mallari, a lawyer.
In her report, Tavares quoted Supreme Court deputy spokesperson Gleo Guerra as saying that disqualification cases can only be elevated to the High Court once the Comelec has made a decision on the matter.
At present, two petitions to disqualify Estrada from the 2010 presidential race are pending before the Comelec: one filed by Evillo Pormento and another by lawyer Oliver Lozano.
Both petitions stated that Estrada could no longer seek reelection since he has already occupied the presidency from 1998 to 2001.
Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution states that: “The President shall not be eligible for any reelection. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.”
But Estrada’s camp repeatedly argued that the provision does not apply to him because he only served two and a half years in office.
Estrada, elected in 1998, was forced to step down in January 2001 amid corruption charges. He was convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan in September 2007 and was meted reclusion perpetua and disqualified from seeking any public office.
He was, however, pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in October 2007. - Andreo Calonzo/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 pm
hindi siya dapat na mag pa re elect dahil wala siyang ginawang kabutihan sa mga tao anong sabi nya noon! kung sya ay manalo tutulungan nya ang mga mahihirap na tao dahil laki sya sa hirap,pero anong resulta noong sya ay naging presidente wala! at lalong naghihirap ang mga tao dahil nagkalat ang pasugalan, at iba pa corruption! kahit alam nila kung sino ang nangurakot hindi pa basta basta manadip para magkaroon ng leksyon sa mga taong nasa position. at sana naman sa sumusunod na maging president na ayusin…..
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:06 pm
nila pagdala ang kanilang position at tutulungan nila ang mga taong magsasaka para guminhawa naman ang kanilang hanap buhay.lalo na sa mga probensya na walang tubig, at koryente at yong mga kalsada na lubak-lubak dapat sementohin nila o kaya spaltohin ang kalsada para maganda ang takbo ng sasakyan. lalo na sa mga probinsya sa mga baranggay na ang hirap ng daan wlang kalsada.tingnan nyo sa south korea ang ganda kahit saan ka magpunta ng bundok puro spalto ang kalsada, may koryente at my tubig.at maganda ang pagdala sa gobyerno dahil kung sino ang nangurakot ay dali lang nadadakip dahil ang namumuno ay hindi nangurakot. at para naman may pagbabago at uunlad ang ating nasud pilipinas.
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
ang wish ko sa year 2010 lalo na sa maging presidente na baguhin lahat ng pamaraan at sana magkaroon ng kapayapaan at wala ng patayan at sana maayos na ang hanap buhay sa mga mahihirap at para uunlad ang ating bansa.
January 18th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Mas mabuti na rin yan, di naman mananalo yan si erap eh. At mas mabuti yan para ma hati ang vote ng oposisyon. Pero bilib den ako sa guts ni Erap, halos di na nga nya marinig ang tanung noong sa ISANG TANUNG sa GMA may lakas pa syang tumakbo. Bakit noong na kulong si erap panay ang opera sa paa nya? Ngayun na malaya na, la nang opera?
January 19th, 2010 at 5:28 am
“The President shall not be eligible for any reelection. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.”
Erap, you were elected as president. You did not succeed the presidency.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Mag-isip naman sana ang tao ng Gobyerno natin. Alam ng buong mundo na convicted of Plunder ang taong gusto nyo pang maging Pangulo ulit ng bansa. Pag nanalo yan anu kaya tayo…? Hindi pla kmi lang na simpleng mamamayan… ^_^v
March 19th, 2010 at 1:50 am
Naku kapag yang c erap nanalo as our president. gagantihan nya ang mga taong nsa likod ng pag-susulong noon upang siya ay tuluyang makulong sa kasong pandarambong.Lalo lang magkakagulo.
Tanga at di nag-iisip ang boboto dyan kay erap.
erap para sa mahirap???!!!! Kalokohan!!!