MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) 2nd Division on Wednesday junked separate petitions seeking the disqualification of former President Joseph Estrada in the 2010 presidential elections.

In its resolution, the poll body said it junked the petitions filed by lawyers Ely Pamatong, Evelio Formento and Mary Lou Estrada due to lack of merit.

"Let the people decide who will be the next president," the Comelec ruled.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the petitioners could still a file a motion for reconsideration before the commission en banc.

"We suppose they would want time to study the decision because certainly a motion for reconsideration that's filed as a matter of form simply as a kneejerk reaction will not get very far. The motion for reconsideration will have to state good reasons why the original decision has to be overturned," he said in an ANC interview.

According to the petitions, Estrada is banned from running in the presidential election due to a constitutional ban on former presidents from seeking reelection.

Estrada's lawyers have argued that the ban applies only to those who have served as president for more than 4 years.

Estrada served for only two-and-a-half years. He took office in June 1998 but was removed from office after EDSA 2, a military-backed revolt in January 2001.

Erap: It's all systems go 

Estrada thanked the Comelec for its decision, saying that nothing would make him happier than serving the Filipino people.

"This decision has lifted that cloud of doubt with respect to my candidacy. Now the people know that it is all systems go for Erap for the May elections," he said in a statement.

The former president also noted the date of the decision coincided with his ouster from office 9 years ago.

"This date of the promulgation of this decision saying that I, Joseph Estrada, am qualified to run for president, is significant to me personally because it was exactly on this day nine years ago, January 20, 2001, when the honor to serve the Filipino people as president was stolen from me. Today, the opportunity to serve has been returned and it seems as if I am being told that I need to complete the mission that my administration started in 1998," he said.

He added: "I wish to thank the Comelec commissioners  for their sense of fairness and for deciding to act expeditiously on this case. This victory is not mine; but a victory of our people and our democracy.  Finally, it is settled: as sovereignty emanates from no less than the people, in this matter of choosing our president, we should let the people decide."

The Supreme Court earlier dismissed with finality the petition filed by the lawyers’ group Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. seeking Estrada’s disqualification since there is a pending petition with the Comelec.

During the reading of the decision, Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer cited Pamatong in contempt and ordered his removal from the Comelec session hall in Intramuros, Manila after he accused the poll body of corruption.

The Comelec 2nd Division also junked Pamatong's petition to disqualify President Arroyo from running as representative in the second district of her home province of Pampanga. With reports from radio dzMM and ANC