Estrada wants more time to answer disqualification raps

Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada

MANILA, Philippines–Ousted President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada failed to answer the disqualification case against him on the deadline set by the Supreme Court.

Estrada, through his lawyer George Erwin Garcia, instead asked the SC for more time—30 days to be exact—to reply to the disqualification case filed by lawyer Alicia Risos-Vidal.

In a motion filed Thursday, July 4, Garcia told the SC he needed a month to formulate “a more responsive comment,” saying he was saddled with “many active cases of equal importance.”

The SC gave Estrada until July 7, Sunday, to comment on the case brought against him.

Garcia said Estrada’s lawyer, former Socilitor General Frank Chavez, received a copy of the SC’s June 5 order on June 27.

Garcia said Estrada hired him on Tuesday, July 2.

“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,” Garcia said.

Vidal had asked the SC to reverse the Commission on Elections’ ruling dismissing her plea for Estrada’s disqualification.

The lawyer argued that Estrada should not be allowed to run for any elective post because his pardon on his plunder conviction was conditional and not absolute.

Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, whom Estrada edged in the May 13 elections, also filed a similar petition with the high court.

Estrada received 343,993 votes against Lim’s 308,544 votes.