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Estrada Challenging His Successor
Ousted President Joseph Estrada filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court on Tuesday questioning the legitimacy of his successor.
Estrada's lawyer said the petition is the first direct challenge to the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was sworn in Jan. 20 as swelling street protests forced Estrada to leave the presidential palace. Macapagal-Arroyo, who was vice president, picked a successor to that position Tuesday from Estrada's home region of Mindanao.
``We believe that Gloria usurped the office of permanent president. She is only acting president,'' lawyer Rene Saguisag said.
In the petition, which is meant ``to test one's entitlement to the office,'' Estrada promised that if he wins, he will only take back his office ``if it's in the national interest,'' Saguisag said.
It also appeared that Estrada was trying hard to hold onto his presidential immunity in the face of criminal investigations.
Saguisag also questioned the Supreme Court resolution that allowed Macapagal-Arroyo to take her oath as president.
He said Estrada left the Malacanang presidential palace to avoid violence but kept the presidency.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday had dismissed four petitions seeking a ruling on the status of Macapagal-Arroyo's presidency. The court said none of the petitioners would be directly affected and so had no legal standing.
The court also refused an earlier Estrada request to stop an ombudsman's investigation into the alleged corruption. Estrada had claimed immunity.
Also on Tuesday, Macapagal-Arroyo named a chief Estrada opponent as vice president Tuesday in a nod to the poor southern region of Mindanao, site of communist and Muslim insurgencies.
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