Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada on Monday filed his candidacy to run for a second term for the country's top office in next May's elections.

Estrada, 72, announced his intention to run again months after he was pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to serve life in prison for plundering state assets worthy of 4 billion pesos (about 86 million U.S. dollars) during his presidency from 1998 to 2001. He was dethroned by a mass revolt in 2001 and was later convicted of graft in court.

Clad in a orange jacket, the popular actor-turned-politician rode a "jeepney" -- the most common public transport in the country -- through the heart of Manila to the office of the Commission on Elections to formally present his candidacy papers.

Estrada's running mate is his close ally and a strong critic of the Arroyo administration -- Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

Though Estrada remains popular among the country's poor, legal debates arise as if his bid for a second-term violates the Constitution which bans anyone from seeking re-election. Estrada maintains that he is qualified to do so because he was unable to finish his term.

Estrada was toppled by a military-backed civilian uprising in January 2001 amid wide public outcry of his abuse of power. After his fall, then Vice-President Arroyo was sworn in as the new president.

"I have consulted with legal luminaries and they said that I am eligible for president. We have studied this and we are ready to face the challenges and charges that they would file to try to disqualify me," the on-line news network INQUIRER.NET quoted Estrada as saying.

The ex-president vowed to return power to the masses by offering "new leadership" to rebuild the country that was "mismanaged for over eight years", the report said.

Estrada became famous for starring in action movies where the hero would defend the poor and the oppressed. His image as champion of the poor won for him various elective posts, including the presidency in the 1998 polls.

But opinion polls conducted in the past two months showed that Estrada is likely to face a tough competition from other opposition candidates, including the front-runner Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, the only son of late President Corazon Aquino, and multi-millionaire developer, former Senate President Manuel Villar. Both have filed their candidacy papers.

Estrada is seen starring in a latest film in country's cinemas this month, a move analysts say to rally support for his comeback bid.