A scrutiny on the COMELEC's resolution for allowing former President Joseph Estrada to run again

• Main Authors: Pascual, Rona Mae T., Santos, Lee Anne L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Commercial Law
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/17762
• Institution: De La Salle University

Citizens in a democratic country communicate themselves through the national elections. They choose to elect which should represent them in government. In the Philippines however, the elections has become top serve as a dirty play of politics. The Constitution clearly sets out the different qualifications one must meet in order to run for public office. Nevertheless, many overlook and disregard these provisions and still continue to aspire to become public officials. One of these people is the formerly convicted Joseph Estrada who announced his interest to run for re-elections during the last trimester of 2009. Many reacted violently and some even petitioned for him to be disqualified. However through COMELEC En Banc SPA 09-024, the previously filed disqualification cases filed against the former President were junked on the grounds of utter lack of merit and Estrada was granted the permission to run for the Presidential race even if there was a clear ambiguity on how the constitution must be interpreted. How would this event change the course of the political-legal system in the Philippines?