Pardon can't stop Erap candidacy - Palace exec

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