Lawyer files disqualification case vs Erap

MANILA, Philippines - Another lawyer has filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a petition for disqualification against former President Joseph Estrada, the standard-bearer of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, in the 2010 polls.

In a three-page petition, lawyer Evillo Pormento of Parañaque City has asked the Comelec not to allow Estrada to join the election, saying that it is a “direct and clear violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, particularly Article VII Section 4.”

“The president shall not be eligible for any re-election ... That to allow respondent to run as presidential candidate in the coming 2010 presidential election and to admit his certificate of candidacy will become a bad precedent,” he noted.

Pormento added that other former presidents would follow suit by also seeking the presidency “and will also defeat the wisdom behind the creation of the afore-mentioned constitutional provision which prescribes as one full six-year term of the President of this Republic without the benefit of re-election.”

He maintained that Estrada must “be declared a nuisance candidate,” thus, disallowing him to join the presidential derby.

Last week, Marcos loyalist and lawyer Oliver Lozano had re-filed his petition also seeking the disqualification of Estrada citing similar constitutional prohibition.

Lozano is also seeking the presidency under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.