It's final: Erap can run

It’s final: former President Joseph Estrada can run again for president.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday affirmed a previous decision allowing the former chief executive to join the May 10 presidential elections.
The poll body, on the other hand, upheld the disqualification of actor Richard Gomez and Abraham Khali Mitra in the congressional races in Leyte’s fourth district and Palawan’s second district, respectively. It dismissed for lack of merit the disqualification case filed by former Caloocan City mayor Luis Asistio against incumbent Mayor Enrico Echiverri.
In a five-page resolution, the Comelec denied the disqualification case filed by lawyer Evelio Formento against Estrada for lack of merit.
The commission said Formento failed to present any new and sufficient argument to make it take a second look into the complaint.
In a separate concurring opinion, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the 1987 Constitution did not tackle whether an elected president who did not finish his term may run again for the same position.
“What is only clear is that an elected president who has served his six-year term is forever prohibited from running in the same office. Therefore, Estrada is eligible to run for the presidency this May 10 automated elections,” Sarmiento said.
Estrada lauded the Comelec for removing the stumbling block on his second bid for the presidency.
His spokeswoman, Margaux Salcedo, said the Comelec decision puts to rest doubts on Estrada’s qualifications as a presidential candidate.
Formento, meantime, informed the Comelec that he would file a motion for certiorari before the Supreme Court.
Formento argued that the former president has been convicted and is therefore not qualified to run for any public office.
But the Comelec’s Second Division junked Formento’s disqualification case against Estrada and said the people should be allowed to decide who would be the country’s next president.