'Comelec unlikely to reverse ruling on Estrada's candidacy'

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is not likely to reverse its ruling allowing former President Joseph Estrada to run in the May presidential elections, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said yesterday.

Rodriguez said officials and members of Estrada’s political party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), are not bothered by the possibility that Comelec will reverse its Jan. 20 ruling dismissing petitions to disqualify Estrada from running in the forthcoming elections.

“I don’t think former President Estrada is bothered. I am also not bothered,” said Rodriguez, a member of PMP

The Comelec said it has received the motion for reconsideration filed by lawyer Evillo Pormento.

In the Jan. 20 ruling of the Comelec‘s 2nd Division chaired by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, the poll body dismissed the petition of Pormento and lawyers Mary Lou Estrada and Elly Pamatong to disqualify Estrada “for utter lack of merit.”

“It is the electorate’s choice of who their president should be. The better policy approach is to let the people decide who will be the next president,” the decision read.

“For on political questions, this court may err but the sovereign people will not. To be sure, the Constitution did not grant to the unelected members of the court the right to elect in behalf of the people,” it further said.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo was among the top poll officials who congratulated Estrada for his victory in the case after the decision was handed down.

Rodriguez, former dean of the San Sebastian College of Law, was among those consulted by Estrada before he filed his certificate of candidacy last November.

He said he sees “no point” in the Comelec reversing its decision on the issue.

Last Jan. 18, the Supreme Court also dismissed a petition seeking to disqualify Estrada from again seeking the presidency.

Estrada’s back-to-back victories are expected to boost his rating in surveys which currently show him in a three-cornered fight with fellow presidential candidates Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel Villar.   – Jose Rodel Clapano