14. Former President Estrada cannot successfully It declared as a state policy that “(t)he State shall
claim that he is a President on leave on the maintain honesty and integrity in the public
ground that he is merely unable to govern service and take positive and effective measures
temporarily since such claim has been laid to rest against graft and corruption.”
by Congress and the decision that President
Arroyo is the de jure President made by a co- It ordained that “(p)ublic officers and employees
equal branch of government cannot be reviewed must at all times be accountable to the people,
by the Supreme Court. serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity,
loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and
Conviction by Impeachment as a Bar to justice, and lead modest lives.”
Prosecution
It set the rule that “(t)he right of the State to
15. The Supreme Court rejects former President recover properties unlawfully acquired by public
Estrada’s argument that he cannot be prosecuted officials or employees, from them or from their
for the reason that he must first be convicted in nominees or transferees, shall not be barred by
the impeachment proceedings. His impeachment prescription, laches or estoppel.”
trial was aborted by the walkout of the
prosecutors and by the events that led to his loss It maintained the Sandiganbayan as an anti-graft
of the presidency. Indeed, on February 7, 2001, court.
the Senate passed Senate Resolution No. 83
“Recognizing that the Impeachment Court is It created the office of the Ombudsman and
Functus Officio.” Since the Impeachment Court is endowed it with enormous powers, among which
now functus officio, it is untenable for petitioner is to “(investigate on its own, or on complaint by
to demand that he should first be impeached and any person, any act or omission of any public