Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Legitimacy of Arroyo Government

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the legitimate president of the Philippines, and former president Joseph Estrada has effectively resigned, the Supreme Court announced Friday.

The court reached a unanimous decision upholding the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency, local news channel ABS-CBN reported late Friday.

The court also declared that Estrada effectively resigned when he left the presidential palace o January 20, even if he did not sign his resignation letter.

Estrada lost not only his presidency but also his immunity from suit. Voting 9-4, the Supreme Court decided to junk Estrada's petition for presidential immunity.

The court said in its ruling that Estrada's resignation did not have any legal abstraction because his movements and declarations clearly implied his intent to relinquish his post.

"As events approach January 20, we can have an authoritative window on the state of mind of (Estrada). This window is provided in the final days of Joseph Ejercito Estrada," it said.

The court dismissed the claim of Estrada that the case is a " political issue" to which the court cannot dip its fingers into. It also ruled that the twin petitions on the constitutionality of the Arroyo administration and the legality of ongoing Ombudsman probe against Estrada are well within its jurisdiction, thus " justiciable."

The Supreme Court ruling came 10 days ahead of the March 13 deadline the justices earlier set for the release of the decision.

Estrada has 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration with the High Court.

The Supreme Court's ruling paved the way for the Office of the Ombudsman to file plunder cases against Estrada before the Sandiganbayan (anti-graft office).

Estrada, who was toppled by Arroyo in a military-backed popular uprising, is now face several charges by the Ombudsman including economic plunder which is punishable of death.

He filed a petition on February 5 before the Supreme Court saying he is just "merely on a leave of absence from the office of the President," and still enjoys presidential immunity. He urged the court to announce Arroyo as Acting President and stop the ongoing investigation by the Ombudsman on his criminal charges.






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