Estrada stays as Manila Mayor as SC dismisses disqualification case
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada remains as Manila Mayor after the Supreme Court voted to uphold the Comelec decision to let him run in 2013. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines – Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada stays as chief executive of the country’s capital after the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) saying he was qualified to run for mayor during the 2013 elections.
The high court, through Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, dismissed the consolidated petitions of former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim—the candidate Estrada beat in 2013—and his lawyer Alicia Risos-Vidal.
De Castro is the chairperson of the Sandiganbayan Special Division that convicted Estrada of plunder.
The SC justices voted 11-3 in favor of upholding the Comelec decision, taking into consideration the nature of the pardon given by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Estrada after his conviction.
“The majority characterized the pardon extended by Mrs. Arroyo to Mr. Estrada as absolute, thereby restoring Mr. Estrada’s qualifications to stand as candidate in the last Mayoralty elections,” High Court Information Chief Theodore Te said in a press conference.
Article continues after this advertisement“Likewise, Mr. Estrada’s acceptance of the absolute pardon removed the disqualification arising under Section 40 of the Local Government Code in relation to Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementThe three justices who voted for his disqualification were: Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.
Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza inhibited from the case.
Petitioners insisted that Estrada’s conviction and life imprisonment sentence in 2007 rendered him disqualified to run for public office.
In a tweet, Estrada thanked the Supreme Court for its decision.
Meanwhile, Risos-Vidal said she needs to review first the SC ruling before deciding on her next step.
Te said a motion for reconsideration can still be filed on the high court’s decision which affirmed the Comelec’s ruling.
“I will review the decision and if all of the issues I raised were passed upon, I will not file any MR,” Risos-Vidal said in a text message.
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