SC affirms Erap eligibility in 2013 mayoralty polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed its earlier decision upholding the eligibility of former President Joseph Estrada when he ran for Manila mayor in the 2013 elections.

In a full court session yesterday, SC justices denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Estrada’s rival, former mayor Alfredo Lim, seeking to reverse the high court’s ruling.

“The court denied the appeal filed by the petitioner on the ground that no substantial argument was raised to merit a reconsideration,” SC spokesman Theodore Te told reporters.

The SC ruling promulgated on Jan. 21 and penned by Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo–de Castro has become final, allowing Estrada to finish his term until June 2016.

Te, however, clarified that the SC ruling does not touch on Estrada’s eligibility to run in next year’s general elections.

A majority of the justices stood by their decision that the pardon granted to Estrada by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was absolute.

In its original ruling, the SC voted 11-3 to junk the disqualification case filed against Estrada by Lim’s lawyer Alicia Risos-Vidal.

Estrada was convicted of plunder in 2007.

In her petition, Vidal argued that Estrada’s conviction for plunder had rendered him disqualified from running for public office.

But the high tribunal said Estrada’s acceptance of the absolute pardon removed the disqualifications under Section 40 of the Local Government Code in relation to Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Estrada said that when Arroyo pardoned him, his civil and political rights were restored without any restriction.

Before winning the 2013 mayoralty polls in Manila, Estrada sought the presidency in 2010 but lost.

In reaction to the SC ruling, Estrada yesterday advised Lim to enjoy his retirement.

“They questioned my candidacy in various forums such as the Commission on Elections, Manila regional trial court, Sandiganbayan and the SC but their petitions were all dismissed,” the mayor said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano