Sandiganbayan affirms: Erap can run for mayor

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its December 2012 decision junking a petition questioning the legality of former president Estrada’s candidacy for mayor of Manila.

In a two-page ruling issued in February, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR yesterday, the anti-graft court’s Special Division said the appeal filed by lawyers Fernando Perito and Nepthali Aliposa was filed too late.

Perito and Aliposa argued that when the former president was pardoned following his conviction for plunder in September 2007, his right to run for public office was not among the civil and political rights restored to him.

The Sandiganbayan junked their petition in December because they violated the Rules of Court when they did not furnish the concerned parties a copy of the petition and did not schedule a hearing for the petition.

Perito and Aliposa appealed the ruling, explaining that they were ill-advised by a former member of the judiciary that the Special Second Division had already been dissolved.

Estrada, on the other hand, said his wish for his 76th birthday on April 19 is for a landslide victory for himself and his entire ticket. – Michael Punongbayan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rey Galupo