MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss the petitions seeking his disqualification as mayor of Manila.
In a 70-page memorandum filed on June 9, he insisted he was qualified to run in last year’s mayoral race despite his conviction for plunder by the Sandiganbayan in 2007.
Through his lawyers led by former UP law dean Pacifico Agabin, Estrada cited the “unqualified and absolute†pardon extended to him by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Estrada disputed the main argument of former mayor Alfredo Lim who cited the “whereas†clause in the pardon grant.
This clause to the effect that he has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office is not a condition for the grant of the pardon, but “merely part of a preliminary statement,†Estrada argued.
He added that when Arroyo pardoned him, his civil and political rights were restored without any restriction or limit.
He said this means that his right to vote and to seek public office, “is unqualified and absolute in character.â€
In a resolution on April 22, the SC finally gave due course to the petitions filed by Lim and his lawyer Alicia Risos-Vidal last year. The high tribunal also ordered the parties to submit their respective memoranda within 30 days from receipt of notice.
Vidal filed the petition in April last year, after which Lim filed his petition-in-intervention.
Estrada submitted his comment to the petitions in June last year, wherein he insisted that the pardon granted by Arroyo was absolute and not hinged on the condition that he would no longer seek elective office.