SC shuts doors on Lim appeal, rules Estrada eligible Manila mayor

Former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines–The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the eligibility of former President Joseph Estrada to run for Manila mayor after it dismissed the appeal filed by former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

At a press conference, high court’s Information Chief Theodore Te said Lim’s motion for reconsideration was denied for failure to raise substantial arguments that would warrant a reversal of its Jan. 21 ruling.

BACKSTORY: Estrada stays as Manila Mayor as SC dismisses disqualification case

“The Court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by intervenor, former Mayor Alfredo Lim on the ground that no substantial argument was raised to merit reconsideration,” Te said.

The high court, in dismissing the petitions of Lim and lawyer Alicia Risos-Vidal last Jan. 21 affirmed the Commission on Elections  (Comelec) decision as it considered the nature of the pardon given by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Estrada after he was convicted of plunder.

“The majority characterized the pardon extended by Mrs. Arroyo to Mr. Estrada as absoute, 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.

“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.

Petitioners insisted that President Estrada’s conviction for plunder and life imprisonment sentence in 2007 rendered him disqualified to run for public office.

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