Former President, Joseph Erap Estrada, was here in Cebu a couple of weeks ago in order to spice up the “pre-campaigning” stages for the 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections. So what’s the big fuss? Well, there are rumors circulating that Erap Estrada might run for Presidency again. Wait, hold that thought for the moment. A convicted criminal and a former President guilty of plunder and corruption who was ousted by the people of the Philippines and who happened to be pardoned by his former vice-president, now president, Gloria Arroyo; This very same man will be running for Presidency?
Well, who am I to judge? I’ll just get this straight to the point. According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution and my studies in my political science class, it’s impossible for Joseph Estrada to run for Presidency as it is stated in the constitution that:
Article VII: Section 4 – The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date, six years thereafter. The President shall not be eligible for any re-election.
Therefore, the former President has a maximum of one term which was from June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001 (his time in office).
So one shouldn’t be fooled into believing that Erap can run for President for the second time as it clearly violates the constitution especially Article VII, Section 4. If he happens to get granted to run for President, well, I am clearly living in a corrupt, crooked up and perhaps a country soon to be ran by a criminal.
Oh Yes you Moron! President Estrada CAN STILL RUN for the Presidency. Article 7 Section 4 does not hold true anymore. Although elected by the People, his tenure did not satisfy the terms and conditions of that article. In short, that Article lost its effects on him. He isn’t bound by that Article anymore because he has not been able to fullfill it due to an ovbiously ORCHESTRATED “people power 2″.