The Issue:
The pardon granted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to former President Joseph Estrada last October is not a ground for stopping Estrada from running in 2010, Malacañang’s top legal eagle admitted Thursday.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said they would bank more on the 1987 Constitution and seek to disqualify Estrada once he files his certificate of candidacy.
“He is not bound by it kasi ‘whereas’ lang yan. Hindi yan condition. Wala yan, di nakalagay na condition yan (He is not bound by the pardon because the paragraph saying he will not seek public office is just a ‘whereas’ clause. That is not a condition),” Apostol said in an interview on dzMM radio.
In her order, President Arroyo cited her administration’s policy of releasing inmates who have reached the age of 70. Estrada turned 70 last April 19.
She also noted that Estrada had been under detention for six-and-a-half years, and “publicly committed he will no longer seek any election office.”
On the other hand, Apostol said Estrada’s bid will be legally messy as the Supreme Court traditionally takes a long time to decide on such matters.
“Matagal nga iyan (That will take a long time),” he said in a separate interview on dwIZ radio. - GMANews.TV/ 01/03/2008 / 09:55 AM
The Opinion:
Estrada’s recent public display of his reputation as “Erap para sa Mahirap,” gave not only the administration a hint of him possibly contesting the presidential elections this 2010 but also gave the people an awareness that Erap still have so much to give.
That is just for the fooled eyes only.Like that of a song chirping the notes “will you ever learn?,” today’s people are not that gifted to see the political motives and blunders a certain politician has already showcased.
In Erap’s case, He was summoned to prison and sentenced because of having proven guilty on the plunder case. P-L-U-N-D-E-R. Plunder.
The issue is not only about will try to attain the top spot. It is about how people will try to react on anyone’s certificate of candidacy. I would like to commend the positivity the Administration has in regards to this issue since they were never surprised and moved about Erap’s potential maturity on the seat. This current Administration have formulated a certain method of lurking the public to act vigorously and at the same time wisely.
