1. Donayre, Rhoydiel B.
BSHRM I-D
The Commission on Elections on Wednesday allowed former President Joseph
Estrada to run in this year's presidential elections.
"The better policy approach is to let the people decide who will be the next
President. For on political questions, this court may err but the sovereign people will
not," the poll body’s Second Division said in a decision junking the petition filed
against Estrada last December.
"The two petitions for disqualification separately filed by Evillo Pormento and Mary
Lou Estrada against former President Joseph Estrada are both denied for utter lack
of merit," the Comelec said.
Incidentally, the decision was promulgated on the same day Estrada was forced by
a popular street uprising to step down nine years ago.
The Second Division likewise denied the petition of lawyer Elly Pamatong to cancel
Estrada's certificate of candidacy, saying the plea had wasted the poll body's
"precious time."
In seeking Estrada's disqualification, the petitioners cited Article VII, Section 4 of the
Constitution which says: "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."
Pamatong, who was present during the promulgation, was enraged by what he
claimed were corrupt commissioners. He was cited in contempt and detained.