FPJ-Bongbong tandem for ’04?

LAOAG CITY — Though the group pushing for his candidacy in the 2004 presidential race started down South, action king Fernando Poe Jr. may well be starting his political groundwork up North.

Poe met with Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Rep. Imee Marcos here for lunch last Sunday, a rare occasion that has added fodder to the flames of speculation about the possibility that Poe may run for president in 2004.

Poe had earlier been reported to be the opposition’s top choice for standard-bearer in the 2004 presidential race.

It will be recalled that the FPJ for President Movement was launched weeks ago in Mindanao by former Cagayan de Oro Mayor Ruben Canoy. The movement, Canoy said, has received overwhelming support and will soon open chapters in Manila and other parts of the country.

Political observers claimed that Poe, in making his unexpected call on the Marcos siblings, is testing the political waters in Northern Luzon. They said Ilocos Norte is the heart of the so-called "Solid North" bailiwick of the Marcos clan and its late patriarch, former President Ferdinand Marcos.

With the Marcos heirs’ support, Poe is likely to sweep Ilocos Norte and the rest of Ilocandia, they said.

The observers noted that Poe had been to Ilocos Norte several times for the filming of his movies, but they added that the action king met with the Marcos siblings only during his latest visit to the province. Poe is currently filming the movie Alamat ng Panday here.

It was also noted by observers that Poe was accompanied by his close-in staff at FPJ Movie Productions when he met with the Marcos siblings at Bongbong’s home in Suba, Paoay.

Bongbong seemed evasive when journalists asked him about the Sunday luncheon meeting with Poe and said they talked about "bagnet (crisp fried pork belly, cooked Ilocano style)."

When asked if Poe was considering him as a running mate, the governor said "that’s all speculation."

He said their meeting was casual. "He did not answer," Bongbong said of Poe, referring to the conversation in which the governor asked Poe about his political plans in 2004.

Their talk, Bongbong said, shifted to the condition of a common friend, deposed President Joseph Estrada and what can be done to help Estrada. "The rest of our meeting was tawanan (laughter and joke-cracking). It was just a social visit."

Besides the Marcos siblings, Ilocos Norte mayors Tomas Torralba, of Badoc and Jaime Abadilla of Banna were present at the meeting.

It was also learned that Poe tagged along with Imee when she went to nearby Fort Ilocandia for her meeting with some groups, an indication, observers said, that he is now starting to commune with the local folk.