President Rodrigo Duterte has raised a possible candidacy for vice president in hopes that staying in office would keep him immune from lawsuits.
It's a recurring theme in Philippine politics. Presidents, once they leave Malacañang, are bombarded with lawsuits that have been waiting for them while they were still in office.
In the case of President Duterte, there's the International Criminal Court waiting to investigate him for crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs.
Here's a look at the charges, accusations, and investigations faced by the most recent former Philippine presidents:
1. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III
Around two years since leaving Malacañang in 2016, Aquino faced criminal charges for usurpation of authority, and graft and corruption over the 2015 botched Mamasapano police operation that left 44 police commandos dead. The charges were dropped in 2019.
In 2018, Aquino was also indicted for realigning some P72 billion in public funds for the implementation of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program during his administration, which was later declared unconstitutional.
Aquino died in June 2021 of kidney failure.
2. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
One year after stepping down, Arroyo was arrested on Nov. 18, 2011 while she was confined at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City. The arrest was made over an electoral sabotage complaint filed by the Commission on Elections. She was released from hospital arrest on bail in July 2012.
That same month, the Ombudsman sued Arroyo for plunder of P366 million of state lottery funds during her term in office. Her plea for bail was denied and she remained under hospital arrest.
On July 19, 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed the corruption charges against Arroyo and ordered her release from the hospital. She went on to become the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2018. She retired from politics in 2019.
3. Joseph 'Erap' Estrada
Estrada was removed from office through the popular uprising EDSA II. While he maintained that he resigned, Estrada became the first Philippine president convicted of plunder for several charges including receiving kickbacks from proceeds of the illegal gambling game jueteng. He was sentenced to reclusion perpetua.
He was initially detained at the Veterans' Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City then transferred to a military facility, and was later placed under house arrest in his vacation home.
In 2007, Estrada was granted absolute pardon by his successor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who toppled his presidency. He was released on Oct. 26, 2007 after nearly seven years in detention.
Estrada ran for president again in 2010 -- losing to Noynoy Aquino. He became a two-term Manila mayor and eventually lost in 2019 to incumbent Isko Moreno.
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