Estrada files COC, confident he won’t be disqualified

Former President Joseph “Erap" Estrada filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Monday, fully confident he would not be banned from seeking another shot at the presidency in next year's polls. Clad in his signature orange jacket, Estrada formalized his presidential bid together with running mate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and the senatorial slate of the United Opposition who also filed their respective COCs at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. Interviewed by reporters, Estrada asserted that only incumbent presidents and those who have served a full six-year term should be prevented from running for president again.

"Two and a half years lang akong (umupo) kaya pwedeng pwede tayong tumakbo para tapusin ang aking termino at saka isa pa di ako incumbent (I served for only two and a half years that’s why I can still run to finish my term, and I am also not an incumbent)," he said after filing his COC. Estrada then referred to Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution which states that “the President shall not be eligible for any re-election. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time." “Kaya pinbagbabawal sa (An) incumbent (is prohibited) to run for reelection kasi (because) she or he has undue advantage over his opponents because he has all government resources," he said. Also filing their COCs were Binay and the UNO's senatorial candidates: Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Pro-Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, lawyer Jayvee Bautista of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong" Plaza, Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Apolinario “Jun" Lozada, and businessman and NBN-ZTE scandal whistleblower Jose de Venecia III.
Included as UNO's guest senatorial candidates are Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., who are both seeking reelection in the 2010 polls. Estrada had earlier expressed willingness to also adopt former senator Sergio Osmeña III as guest senatorial candidate. Forced to vacate Malacañang in January 2001, Estrada was arrested, tried and later convicted of plunder in September 2007. He was later granted pardon by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. - LG/RSJ, GMANews.TV