Philstar.com
Philstar.com - Wednesday, September 23
MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada insisted that he is eligible to run in the 2010 presidential derby.
During a debate on whether he is still be eligible to run or not, Estrada, clad in a blue barong tagalog, maintained that there is no provision in the Constitution that would bar him from again seeking the presidency next year.
"For me, the prohibition (in running again) only applies to the incumbent President because of the undue advantage. (For example) She could use the fertilizer fund, the road user's tax and other government funds (in the campaign)," Estrada said in his usual slurred speech.
The former chief executive also argued that he could use the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of his late friend Fernando Poe Jr. — who previously ran for president — regarding his citizenship. As it turned out, the High Court ruled that the people should be allowed to decide on whether to vote for Poe or not.
"Ang taongbayan ang dapat mag-desisyon (It’s the people who should decide)," Estrada said, alluding to the SC's ruling on Poe's case.
He also insisted that he did not resign his post as President but was merely "on leave" when he left Malacañang in January 2001 at the height the Edsa People Power II revolution.
"I never resigned. I'm only on leave. I was never convicted in the impeachment trial," Estrada reiterated.
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, however, said the SC's ruling on Poe's case cannot be applied to Estrada’s case. He said Poe’s case was about citizenship while Estrada’s concerned re-election.
"He (Estrada) has taken an oath of office to abide by the provisions of the Constitution, which included that he is not eligible for re-election," Macalintal said.
He added that President Arroyo, who was then Estrada's vice president, was only continuing the unfinished term of Estrada when he was ousted in 2001, exempting her from the four-year clause provided in the Constitution.
For his part, Atty. Pacifico Agabin, Estrada legal counsel, argued that his client could still run since he served only less than four years of his six-year term.
"The term 'President' (in the Constitution) refers only to the sitting president and not the former president," Agabin said. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Philstar.com - Wednesday, September 23
MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada insisted that he is eligible to run in the 2010 presidential derby.
During a debate on whether he is still be eligible to run or not, Estrada, clad in a blue barong tagalog, maintained that there is no provision in the Constitution that would bar him from again seeking the presidency next year.
"For me, the prohibition (in running again) only applies to the incumbent President because of the undue advantage. (For example) She could use the fertilizer fund, the road user's tax and other government funds (in the campaign)," Estrada said in his usual slurred speech.
The former chief executive also argued that he could use the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of his late friend Fernando Poe Jr. — who previously ran for president — regarding his citizenship. As it turned out, the High Court ruled that the people should be allowed to decide on whether to vote for Poe or not.
"Ang taongbayan ang dapat mag-desisyon (It’s the people who should decide)," Estrada said, alluding to the SC's ruling on Poe's case.
He also insisted that he did not resign his post as President but was merely "on leave" when he left Malacañang in January 2001 at the height the Edsa People Power II revolution.
"I never resigned. I'm only on leave. I was never convicted in the impeachment trial," Estrada reiterated.
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, however, said the SC's ruling on Poe's case cannot be applied to Estrada’s case. He said Poe’s case was about citizenship while Estrada’s concerned re-election.
"He (Estrada) has taken an oath of office to abide by the provisions of the Constitution, which included that he is not eligible for re-election," Macalintal said.
He added that President Arroyo, who was then Estrada's vice president, was only continuing the unfinished term of Estrada when he was ousted in 2001, exempting her from the four-year clause provided in the Constitution.
For his part, Atty. Pacifico Agabin, Estrada legal counsel, argued that his client could still run since he served only less than four years of his six-year term.
"The term 'President' (in the Constitution) refers only to the sitting president and not the former president," Agabin said. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)