HERE HE IS AGAIN: MARCOS LOYALIST LOZANO SEEKS ERAP DISQUALIFICATION
MANILA, OCTOBER 27, 2009 (STAR) By Sheila Crisostomo - MANILA, Philippines - He’s at it again.Known for jumping the gun and always being the first to file impeachment cases against President Arroyo, Marcos loyalist Oliver Lozano has done it again.
Lozano yesterday filed a petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking the disqualification of former President Joseph Estrada in the 2010 presidential race.
In an eight-page petition, Lozano said that Estrada’s leaders and supporters must welcome his petition because it would lead to a “Solomonic solution” on whether or not Estrada is qualified to run for president again.
“This petition to pursue the truth wherever it may lead, whoever it may hurt, whoever it may benefit. A just verdict and Solomonic solution is mollifying and unifying,” he added.
Citing the Constitution that provides “no presidential re-election,” he claimed that Estrada “is not qualified to run for re-election.”
But according to Comelec chairman Jose Melo, the filing of the petition was premature since Estrada has not filed his certificate of candidacy.
Last week, Estrada announced his intention to run for president with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate. This led to varying opinions on whether he is actually qualified to do so or not.
In his petition, however, Lozano made known his intention to also run for president “unless and until Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. will run for president.”
In his petition, Lozano said he is “a serious presidential contender and believe he is also qualified.”
He also said he “has done many good things for the country and people that other candidates have not done.”
Lozano boasted of working for the surrender of Abu Sayyaf’s Kumander Galib Andang alias Kumander Robot, for stopping indiscriminate bombing in Mindanao and for criminally charging a top military official.
He also bragged about having impeached Estrada, and questioning the use of the sequestered multibillion gold and dollar deposits of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.
Premature
Meanwhile, Estrada spokesperson Margaux Salcedo said the petition to disqualify former president Estrada in the 2010 presidential elections was premature.
Sought for comment, Salcedo said any protest to disqualify Estrada from the 2010 presidential elections should be filed after he files his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Nov. 30.
“Any case to disqualify former President Joseph Estrada from running for president in 2010 can only be filed after he files his certificate of candidacy, not at this point in time. The disqualification petition filed by Atty. Lozano is so obviously premature that it almost seems as if Lozano is either making a mockery of the (Comelec) or deliberately making a laughing stock of himself to make headlines,” Salcedo said.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party is not inclined to file a case to disqualify Estrada, according to LP spokesperson and Quezon Fourth District Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada.
He said the party had decided not to stop Estrada from trying to regain the position that he believed was stolen from him by now President Arroyo in 2001.
LP standard-bearer and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said he and Estrada had consultations but denied that the reason why their coalition did not push through was because the LP did not want to accept Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile as senatorial candidate.
“That’s not the issue,” Aquino said. – With Aurea Calica and Jose Rodel Clapano
Ping denies charges in Dacer-Corbito case (The Philippine Star) Updated October 27, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Panfilo Lacson denied yesterday allegations linking him to the 2000 killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.
In his counter-affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice, Lacson said former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II was lying when he claimed in an affidavit that he (Lacson) ordered the killing of Dacer when he was Philippine National Police chief.
Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s preliminary investigation, Lacson said he was in the US attending a United Nations summit in New York during the time Mancao supposedly overheard him order the hit.
“Since I was also in the United States at that time when President Estrada was abroad, I could not have possibly been present in the car with Mancao… (I) could not have given (Aquino) the alleged ‘order’ to neutralize Dacer and Corbito,” he said.
Lacson said Sen. Manuel Roxas II, who was then secretary of trade and industry, could attest to his claim since they were together in that summit.
He had included an affidavit of Roxas as an annex in his counter-affidavit and asked the DOJ to summon Roxas to the preliminary investigation, he added.
Lacson said Mancao himself admitted during the court hearing that he was not certain of what he actually overheard.
“My alleged involvement now becomes rather doubtful,” he said.
“A witness who is certain of his narrations will remain staunch (in the face of) the assiduous efforts of the defense to demolish his credibility notwithstanding.
“On the other hand, a witness who prevaricates will find it hard to stick to his story and will find himself eventually entangled in the web of lies he has woven. Easily Mancao falls under this category.”
Lacson asked the DOJ to summon former police superintendent Glenn Dumlao to testify before the preliminary investigation.
GMA News reporter Maki Pulido and ABS-CBN News anchor Ted Failon, who both interviewed Mancao in 2008, must also be summoned, he added.
The DOJ granted the request of Lacson to summon all five and set the next hearing on Nov. 6.
Lacson said complainants Emily and Sabina Dacer had no personal knowledge of the killings of their father and Corbito. – Edu Punay
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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