Q and A
1. Is Pres.Arroyo is a legitimate president? Why.
Yes. As decided by the court of last resort, President Arroyo is LEGITIMATE president as a successor of former Pres.Estrada. The Supreme Court foreseen the case as a matter of national security and national integrity. Estrada did not resign from the office but the mere fact that he left Malacañang Palace and the political crisis that Estrada faced that time, the court of last resort ruled that if no one will took the presidency, much more crisis will arise and as a provision in 1987 constitution (article 7, section
, the vice-president will be the ACTING PRESIDENT. Pres.Arroyo took place the presidency only as a SUCCESSOR to the vacant seat of the president.
2. Is former Pres.Estrada can run for president on May 2010? Why.
In general, the answer is clear (article 7, section 4), No. Former Pres.Estrada is ineligible to run for president on May 2010. But if I were to analyzed the provisions of the constitution, as stated in article 7, 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.
No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time".The bold letters: The term
president is a confusion to whom it may be applied. Whose president? Is it Ramos, Estrada, Aquino, Marcos, or Arroyo?
Italicized letters:
"No person who has succeeded as president". Did former Pres.Estrada succeeded his term? I presume you know the answer.
"has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time". Did former Pres.Estrada served more than four years? I also presume you know the answer. Therefore,
"shall be qualified for election to the same at any time".