Erap jubilant over SC junking of disqualification petition. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada expresses jubilation as he faces reporters in a press conference at the Manila City Hall on Wednesday, after hearing the news the Supreme Court junked the disqualification petition against him. Danny Pata
The 2016 presidential race just got more interesting now that the Supreme Court has ruled that Manila mayor Joseph Estrada can run for public office, a party-list lawmaker said Wednesday.
ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said voters who are rooting for either Vice President Jejomar Binay or Senator Grace Poe might end up voting for Estrada should he should he make yet another bid for the presidency next year.
“[Mayor Estrada] will still be considered a formidable presidential candidate, lalo na kung pagbabatayan natin iyong naging performance niya noong 2010,” told reporters at a press briefing.
“Ang vote base niya (Estrada), iyon din ang potentially ang boboto for Binay and even for Grace Poe so this will make things interesting,” Tinio added.
Binay, who was Estrada’s running mate in 2010, is the frontrunner among presidential candidates in recent election surveys while Poe has consistently placed second.
Voting 11-3, the Supreme Court ruled that the pardon granted by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Estrada for his plunder conviction was absolute, thereby restoring his civil and political rights.
Estrada, however, had said he plans to retire from politics next year since he has a “good vice mayor” who can continue the programs he has started for Manila.
