MANILA, Philippines—Detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and half-brother Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito expressed elation on the Supreme Court’s decision junking the disqualification case against their father, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
“The decision of the Supreme Court is a triumph of the will of the Filipino masses especially the electorate of the City of Manila to choose their rightful leader,” Jinggoy Estrada said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We know that this petition filed by a losing opponent was merely a ploy to derail his plans of transforming Manila into a dynamic and progressive metropolis, which my father is now doing,” he added.
Ejercito, in a text message to reporters, said he was “happy” that the SC “gave importance to the voice of the people.”
“They respected the mandate that was given as duly elected mayor of Manila,” Ejercito added.
Voting 11-3, the high tribunal on Wednesday upheld the Commission on Election’s decision saying that the former President was qualified to run for mayor during the 2013 elections.
Hopefully, the high court’s decision would finally put an end to “all questions and uncertainties” over the pardon granted to his father and “his eligibility to run for public office,” Jinggoy Estrada said.
“And now that this issue has been settled, let us focus on helping the local government of Manila led by President Mayor Estrada to succeed in the next 18 months in restoring the glory and grandeur of our beloved capital city which were lost due to years of mismanagement and negligence,” he further said.
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