Estrada asks SC for more time to answer disqualification case

Joseph Estrada FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to give him more time to answer the disqualification case filed against him.

In a five-page motion, Estrada’s lawyer George Erwin Garcia asked the high court to give them 30 days to file their comment on the petition of a certain lawyer Alicia Risos-Vidal.

“The indulgence of this Honorable Court is sought on the matter considering that numerous pleadings that require immediate preparations and submissions as well as appearances in the many active cases of equal importance are being handled by undersigned counsel,” the motion stated.

Vidal, in her petition, urged the high court to reverse the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) ruling dismissing her plea for Estrada’s disqualification.

She told the high court that Estrada should not be allowed to run for any elective post because his pardon on his plunder conviction was conditional, not absolute.

Vidal also urged the high court to order the cancellation of Estrada’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for Manila Mayor in the recently concluded elections.

Estrada’s rival in the May polls, Alfredo Lim, also filed a similar petition with the high court.

Estrada won over Lim, with 343,993 votes; Lim got 308,544 votes.