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Thursday, January 03, 2008
Palace dismisses opposition's 'term-sharing' proposal
MANILA -- A Palace official on Wednesday dismissed the "term-sharing" being proposed by the opposition should former President Joseph Estrada run and win in the presidential elections in 2010.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol branded the proposal as unconstitutional and misleading the people who would vote for the candidate who is supposed to hold a six-year term if he or she wins.
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Press secretary Ignacio Bunye said it would be up to the opposition to discuss and settle such proposal among themselves.
Both Bunye and Apostol said that Malacañang, particularly President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, prefers to focus on governance including growing the economy.
San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said his father, Estrada, is wiling to agree to a term-sharing if he wins in 2010, which mean he would only assume the first three-year of the term and allow his vice president to assume the next three years of the six-year presidential term.
Estrada earlier said he could still run in 2010 after being given a full pardon by Arroyo but he has no plans at the moment to do so. He said he prefers to focus on uniting the opposition in preparation for the next presidential elections.
Apostol reiterated that Estrada after winning the 1998 presidential elections could no longer run in 2010 as the Constitution prohibits it.
"Whether he finished it (his term) or not, it is also part of the presidential pardon," he said.
Apostol acknowledged that Estrada may ignore the provisions of the pardon, but it could be used as a ground for his disqualification.
He earlier said some presidentiable wannabes may also question it in court should he (Estrada) decide to run.
Bunye also said the former leader had agreed to the provisions of the pardon when he received and signed the document in October 26. Arroyo issued the pardon on October 25.
"I cannot go back to the whys and wherefores. The fact is there was a pardon extended. There were conditions that were set in the pardon itself and the pardon was supposed to be accepted and that in fact was accepted and that was the basis for the release of the former President," he said.
Bunye declined to say if the pardon would be revoked if Estrada decides to run, saying it is still speculative at the moment. He added that he is not aware of any revocation or withdrawal of pardon being done by Arroyo.
"We'll probably cross the bridge when we get there," he said, adding that he is not sure if previous presidents have done such revocation or withdrawal of pardon.
Estrada, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for plunder on September 12, was granted executive clemency by Arroyo on October 25. It was served on Estrada on October 26 who accepted and signed it, which was followed by his immediate release on the same day.
Under the pardon, Arroyo cited her administration's policy of releasing inmates who have reached the age of 70, and Estrada's detention for six and a half years.
She also acknowledged Estrada's "public commitment to no longer seek any elective position or office" and added that the forfeitures imposed by the
Sandiganbayan on his assets would "remain in force and in full" except for his bank accounts before he became president.
Arroyo also said the civil and political rights of Estrada would be restored once the pardon takes effect after he accepts the order. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (January 3, 2008 issue)
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