Estrada: Gone, But Not Forgotten

Ousted Philippine President Joseph Estrada said in a petition to the Supreme Court on Tuesday that he remained the constitutional head of state but added that he did not plan to challenge his successor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The 32-page petition asked the court to confirm that Estrada was "the lawful and incumbent president of the Republic of the Philippines temporarily unable to discharge the duties of office."

It also asked the court to declare that Arroyo was holding the presidency only in an acting capacity.

But the petition added that in the event the court upheld the plea, Estrada was "ready to support" Arroyo and would "consider making the supreme sacrifice in the national interest, including giving way if need be ...but only in a manner provided and authorized by law."

"Although the petitioner wants a principle established, far be it for him to desire to add to the divisiveness in our society," the petition said.

The Supreme Court has not decided on the petition as yet.

Earlier, the court dismissed four petitions on which of the two, Arroyo or Estrada, had legal claim on the presidency, stating that the petitioners had no legal standing.

But the tribunal said it will hear oral arguments next week on a fifth petition filed on Monday by Estrada to stop the government ombudsman from investigating him for alleged graft, corruption and plunder.

The court ordered Justice Secretary Hernando Perez and the solicitor-general to respond to Estrada's petition by February 12.

In his petition, Estrada insisted he was still the "incumbent president" and therefore had "absolute immunity" from lawsuits. The court did not grant his request to stop the ombudsman's probe.

Estrada was ousted from office on January 20 when the Supreme Court stripped him of his title and swore in Arroyo as new president, capping a "people power" revolt in which hundreds of thousands of protesters across the country demanded his resignation following his impeachment trial on charges of corruption.