ATTY.

ALLIANA ARNICA MAMBATAO, RMT

Constitutional Law 1
ESTRADA V ARROYO
G.R NO:146738 | March 2, 2001
Justice Reynato S. Puno

FACT/S: In the May 11, 1998 elections, the petitioner, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, and the
respondent, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, were elected President and Vice President of the
Republic of the Philippines; both were to serve for six terms in government. However, in
October 2000, Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson accused the petitioner of receiving
P220 million in jueteng money for 3 years, which stirred controversy and led to a
massive call for resignation. On November 13, House Speaker Villar transmitted the
articles of impeachment signed by 115 representatives, or more than 1/3 of all members
of the House of Representatives, to the Senate. On January 11, Atty. Edgardo Espiritu,
the petitioner’s secretary of finance, took the witness stand and allegedly stated that the
petitioner jointly owned BW Resources Corporation. With a vote of 11-10, the senators
ruled against the opening of the second envelope, which allegedly contained evidence
showing that the petitioner held P3.3 billion in a secret bank. In disgust at the ruling
made at 10 p.m., Pimentel resigned as Senate President; thousands of people rallied at
EDSA; public prosecutors submitted their letter to Speaker Fuentebella tendering
collective resignations; and the PNP and AFP withdrew their support for the petitioner’s
administration.

On January 20, which appeared to be the day of the surrender, the first round of
negotiations began for the petitioner until news broke out that Chief Justice Davide
would administer the oath to respondent Arroyo, the same day at 12:00 noon at EDSA.
Two hours later, the petitioner and his family hurriedly left Malacanang Palace and
issued a statement expressing their doubts about the legality and constitutionality of the
respondent’s proclamation as president. On the same day, petitioner signed a letter
transmitting his declaration of being unable to exercise the powers and duties of his
office, thereby leaving the Vice President as the acting President. Copies of the letter
were sent to former Speaker Fuentebella and Senate President Pimentel. After the
petitioner’s fall, legal problems appeared in clusters including cases on bribery; graft
and corruption; plunder; perjury; misconduct; and many more. Petitioner sought to
enjoin the respondent Ombudsman from conducting any further proceedings in any
criminal complaint that may be filed in his office until the term of the petitioner as
President is over and only if legally warranted.

Petitioner also filed a Quo Warranto case praying for judgment “confirming petitioner to
be lawful and incumbent president of the Republic of the Philippines temporarily unable
to discharge the duties of his office and declaring respondent to have taken her oath as
and to be holding the Office of the President, only in an acting capacity pursuant to the
provisions of the constitution.”

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 ATTY. ALLIANA ARNICA MAMBATAO, RMT
Constitutional Law 1
ISSUE/S:
 Whether or not the cases involve a political question.
 Whether or not the petitioner resigned as President.
 Where or not the petitioner is only temporarily unable to act as President.
 Whether or not the petitioner enjoys immunity from suit.
 Whether or not the prosecution of petitioner should be enjoined due to prejudicial
publicity.

RULING:
 Petition of Estrada to respondent Arroyo is DISMISSED.

Link: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2001/mar2001/gr_146710_2001.html

CASE DIGEST | GLEEN MAYER D. BAGANI JD 1-A