Family to Congress: Honor FPJ as 'most loved by the people'

MANILA, Philippines - The family of the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), led by his daughter Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares, urged yesterday the House of Representatives and the Senate to honor FPJ as the “most loved by the people,” if not the rightful winner in the 2004 presidential elections.

Llamanzares said reports that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) could no longer find evidence to prove Poe won in the 2004 presidential elections are an indication that there is no chance for him to be proclaimed as the rightful 14th president of the land.

But recent developments, particularly the electoral sabotage being faced by former President and now Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, are strong proof that her father indeed won in 2004, she said.

“I just want to clarify that because the pieces of evidence can no longer be found, it is likely that he might not be proclaimed. But in sports, once you cheat, you are automatically out. What more in the elections. Even if it is 10 votes, 100 votes or one million votes, it is all the same,” Llamanzares said during the commemoration of the 7th death anniversary of FPJ.

Calls for the government to replace the picture of Arroyo with Poe’s in the gallery of former presidents in Malacañang echoed amid Llamanzares’ statement.

“Our history gave us lessons. What do you want, a 14th president proclaimed by Congress as the winner in the 2004 elections or the one who was allowed to sit as the president, but the true winner is FPJ?”

“While FPJ’s proclamation is pending, we will settle first for a congressional recognition for FPJ as the most loved by our people,” Llamanzares said.

She said her family would not allow the wrong to continue uncorrected.

“We don’t want the wrong to prevail, that the proclaimed president cheated. If you cheat, you should be out. If you stole even one vote, you are out. I thank the President (Aquino) for his example of good governance,” she said

“Maybe, he would allow us to place FPJ’s picture at the gallery of former presidents in Malacañang as the 14th President of the country. Maybe, this will happen when Vice President (Jejomar) Binay is already the president,” Llamanzares said.

She said FPJ has been dead for seven years and the recent events besetting Arroyo and the country may have been the Lord’s handiwork

“I hope seven has significance. Thanks to our President because he took a stand and the process has been sped up. They now listen to the grievances of the people,” Llamanzares said.

For his part, Fr. Larry Faraon, who celebrated a Mass for Poe, agreed with Llamanzares that it is time to place Poe’s picture in the gallery of former presidents.

“We will return FPJ’s picture in Malacañang as the 14th president of the land. Number 7 is the perfect number. Because seven years after his (FPJ) death, something perfect will happen. The fight continues,” Faraon said.

He said the Comelec unearthed pieces of evidence indicating that there was cheating in the 2007 elections.

“They cheated in 2007, but there were more cheatings in 2004. We must hope that the Comelec will investigate the cheatings in 2004 because it is there where FPJ won,” Faraon said.

Binay, for his part, said the turn of events at present is a handiwork of God.

Novaliches Bishop Deogracias Yniguez said FPJ can still be proclaimed should it be proven that Arroyo indeed cheated in the 2004 presidential elections.

“If it is proven in the proper inquiry that he really won, he (FPJ) can still be proclaimed even if he is already dead. At least, that fact must be revealed even if he can no longer do his job anymore,” Yniguez said.

Poe won by 2 M votes

Former ambassador Ernesto Maceda, who has been in politics for 50 years, estimates that Poe won by two million votes in the 2004 election.

Maceda said in all his years in politics where he joined 15 campaign sorties, including that of Estrada, Poe had the most overwhelming support.

“Our motorcade could not move because of the large number of people trooping to his campaign sorties. Some were even lying in front of FPJ’s motorcade and some trying hard to touch him. I saw a tremendous reception that could not be replicated. FPJ is the most beloved candidate in the land,” Maceda said.

Erap thanks FPJ

Former President Joseph Estrada, who was jailed for six years and a half for plunder, said yesterday the most painful part of his life was when he was not able to help his late friend Poe in his campaign for the presidency in 2004.

Estrada, who attended the commemoration of the 7th death anniversary of Poe at his tomb in the Manila North Cemetery, said he could never repay his debt of gratitude to Poe.

He said from day one of his political career, Poe was there to campaign for him.

“When I first ran for mayor of San Juan, FPJ campaigned for me. When I ran for senator, FPJ campaigned for me. When I ran for vice president, FPJ campaigned for me. There was no day that we were never together when I ran for president in 1998. He did not do a movie in 1998 to campaign for me when I ran for president,” Estrada said.

He said his closeness to Poe, whom he regarded and loved more than a brother, dated back to their fight against a syndicate known then as the “Big Four” who were extorting money from actors and actresses in the early years of their movie career.

“Of all the actors and actresses then, FPJ and I were the only ones who refused to be extorted by the Big Four. That is where our friendship started and it became stronger as years passed by,” Estrada said.

He said he would have been beside FPJ in the 2004 presidential elections had he not been jailed.

“That is what saddened me a lot. He had been by my side during my campaigns. But when it was my time to campaign for him in 2004, I was not able to do it and not able to help him because I was in jail.”

Estrada said before Poe was proclaimed as the opposition’s standard-bearer in the 2004 elections, they talked for six hours.

“He (FPJ) has a clean heart and a clean purpose for the people, especially the poor Filipino masses. It was obvious that he was cheated. During our time as movie actors, I cannot beat him in the box office because he was very popular all over the country even in the secluded areas in Mindanao. That is why I cannot believe that GMA will beat FPJ.”

Estrada said Susan Roces, Poe’s widow, was right when she said that Arroyo stole the presidency “not once, but twice.”

“We treated each other more than how we love our own brothers. I cannot repay him even in death,” Estrada said.