FPJ confirms 2004 bid

You read it first in The Philippine STAR.

Confirming The STAR headline story last Sunday, movie action star Fernando Poe Jr. declared yesterday his unequivocal bid for the presidency, saying he was seeking the nation’s highest post to serve the Filipino people.

In an exclusive interview last Friday, Poe said there was "no more" turning back for him as far as seeking the presidency is concerned, saying "I cannot be deaf to the clamor of the people."

Just as he told The STAR, Poe said at a press conference at a Manila hotel yesterday that he has yet to decide on a party or a running mate.

With Poe as he made his much-awaited official declaration on the eve of his late father Fernando Poe Sr.’s birthday was his wife of 35 years, Susan Roces.

Although Poe did not announce who would be his running mate, his spokesman Sen. Vicente Sotto III said Sen. Loren Legarda was "on top of the list."

But an unimpeachable source from the opposition said "Legarda is indeed Poe’s choice as a running mate, because she will complement him."

Legarda, who topped the senatorial polls in 1998, is "likely to accept" the offer to be Poe’s running mate, said another source from the opposition.

Legarda, for her part, said she has yet to decide on whether she would run as vice president in tandem with Poe.

She said there are ongoing negotiations with other parties, including Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, from which she resigned last month.

Sotto, meanwhile, said Poe would announce his choice "in one or two weeks."

Poe told The STAR Roces was at first unsure about his bid, but has thrown her full support behind him when she, too, heard the clamor.

"We did not seek this. It came to us," he said.

When asked why he would make a good president, Poe said it was because he was not "beholden to anyone."

He also vowed clean government, saying, "I am not corrupt, and when businessmen see that there is no corruption, especially at the top, they will invest their money here. That is what we need."

In finally announcing his plan to enter politics, Poe considered his decision the biggest he made in his entire life.

"Ako si Fernando Poe Jr. ay tatakbo sa pagkapangulo, (I, Fernando Poe Jr., am running for president)," the movie actor told a big crowd of friends and supporters during yesterday’s news conference.

Poe, a political newcomer and close friend of deposed President Joseph Estrada, said he was giving in to public pressure.

"Sa buhay ng tao, dumadating ang araw na kailangan harapin ang mabigat na desisyon. Sa tanang buhay ko di pa ko nag-desisyon nang mabigat. At ang araw iyon ay dumating na sa akin (In life, there will come a time when you have to make a big decision. In my life, I haven’t made a big decision yet and that time comes today)," said the 64-year old actor, who is also known as "Da King."

Poe said he was convinced to seek the presidency upon seeing "what the people need."

"Since last year, when I went around the Philippines, I saw what the people need and I saw their clamor, and I cannot turn my back," Poe said. "Actually, it is not an ambition, it is more serving, serving the people and dedicating your life to them."

Sotto, who helped convince Poe to run, said the opposition hopes to have a single candidate to increase its chances of beating President Arroyo and that Poe has agreed to submit himself to the selection process of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

In a later interview with ANC, Poe admitted the possibility he will not be chosen as presidential candidate by the LDP.

"Pag di ako ginawang standard-bearer ng opposition, sideline na lang tayo (If I am not chosen as standard- bearer for the opposition, I will relegate myself to the sidelines)," Poe said.

At this point, Poe said he does not have a political party backing him, but members of Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) said they will support him.

Poe stressed, however, he is not bent on running against the President or anyone else. "I am not running against anyone. I am not a politician," he said, perceiving himself as a "unity candidate," hoping to unite a nation which he said was divided by too much politics.

"I’m not running against anyone. I will run because of the people," he said, adding that by doing so, he may one day repay them for having supported him all these years.

He said "no politician uses me. No one is using me," denying reports that he is being egged on by certain opposition politicians to run to promote their interests.

Poe said his presidential platform is not based on favors by his friends in the movie industry.

"I know them, they are not like that... if they asked favors, they are not for themselves," he said.

Poe said he is willing to work hard to promote unity in the country. He admitted that he has not so much background running a government but urged the public to give him "a chance."

Poe likewise stressed the pervading political climate lacks the civility and respect for each other and the government institutions.

"Sometimes, politics goes beyond the normal parameters... we have lost civility and respect," he said.

Poe admitted the present peace and order situation must first be addressed to stabilize the economy.

He said Mrs. Arroyo’s ordering of full police checkpoints in Metro Manila was a "right step" in containing criminality.

On the question of lifting the moratorium on death penalty, Poe said the public must also consider the rights of victims of heinous crimes.

"It’s how we approach the problem. There’s a moratorium (on death penalty). It’s painful for the victims."

On the issue of Estrada’s continued detention while being tried for plunder before the Sandiganbayan, Poe said he will not intervene with the judicial process.

"I cannot answer that (question on whether he could help Estrada). He’s not yet convicted, trial is going on. Ang kaso niya nasa korte, paubaya natin sa korte (Estrada’s case is now being decided by the courts. Let the courts decide)," Poe said.

Common People, Common Sense

Late last month, supporters of Poe — also known as FPJ — presented him with two million voters’ signatures to convince him to run.

Poe has so far ranked poorly in opinion polls on possible candidates, which his supporters say is due to his initial reluctance to run. His strength is among the urban poor, same as Estrada, but businessmen and others worry that his lack of experience could hurt the country.

During the ANC interview, Poe lashed back at his critics and said the poor and those lowly in life who comprise most of his supporters are an inspiration to him.

"Those poor and less educated people use their common sense, and that should set an example to us all. The use of the common sense," Poe said in Filipino.

"Sometimes the unschooled are the ones who are wise," he later said in flawless English.

Lawyer Julius Raboca, secretary general of the Freedom, Peace and Justice Movement (FPJPM), believes Poe is the best man for the presidency because "he has character and integrity" and carries "no political baggage."

Raboca acknowledged that Poe has no experience in governance.

"There is no school for the presidency... so nobody can really say he is an expert in running the country," he said. "But I’m sure, in time, he will be able to run the country."

News of Poe’s election bid will likely cause jitters when financial markets reopen today. A possible election win by Poe would stoke fears of a repeat of the failed Estrada presidency.

Poe started appearing in movies in his teens and has never held public office. But he has been under pressure from politicians, supporters and Estrada to seek the presidency.

His candidacy is sure to also draw parallels to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger who became governor of California last month after capitalizing on popularity stemming from a slew of Hollywood action blockbusters.

Estrada, in detention on corruption charges, was among those who cheered Schwarzenegger upon his inauguration, urging him to serve the people by bringing his on-screen heroics to politics.

"The so-called learned people, with all their master’s degrees, have no monopoly on leadership," Estrada said last week.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Poe’s declaration has "drawn on what choices are now available for the Filipino people."

"The forthcoming presidential elections, I believe, will be a choice between competence and experience versus pure and simple popularity," he said.

Drilon, who was recently inducted to the Liberal Party, said the LP will support Mrs. Arroyo’s candidacy.

Manila Rep. Harry Angping of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) said they have yet to decide whether to support Poe.

Angping admitted Mrs. Arroyo will have a hard time against Poe in the coming elections. He predicted the movie actor has a good chance of winning by a landslide.

The ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) remained unfazed by Poe’s announcement by claiming the administration is now more confident of a clean sweep in the May 2004 elections.

Davao City Prospero Nograles said the small margin of votes for the opposition will be divided among Poe, Sen. Panfilo Lacson and perhaps former education secretary Raul Roco.

While the Lakas leader admitted Poe has a vast following, this would not necessarily translate to votes especially if he is asked to present and explain his platform of government.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano said voters should now choose their president on the basis of performance and experience, not popularity.

"The declaration of Mr. Poe will force Filipinos to think twice of what kind of leaders they want and what country they dream of, and eventually will use wisdom in voting," Cayetano said.

From North To South

Former Lakas member Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan predicted Poe will win just like Estrada did in the 1998 elections.

He said the decision of Poe to run for president will certainly divide the opposition.

"Lacson will persist on running and will divide votes (for the opposition) with FPJ," he said.

Cosalan, who has joined Roco’s Aksyon Demokratiko, said the former education secretary is still the man to beat in the provinces.

Up North, leaders of various political affiliations in northern Luzon conceded Poe will win by a landslide.

Kalinga Gov. Macario Digulang of the NPC said Poe is strong in his province because of the dissatisfaction with Mrs. Arroyo.

A different view was presented by Abra Gov. Vicente Valera who said they are behind Mrs. Arroyo, though conceding Poe has "mass appeal."

Valera said the administration of Mrs. Arroyo benefited many in Abra because of infrastructure projects.

Benguet Gov. Raul Mencio Molintas said Poe might just be "the unifying candidate."

Ilocos Sur-PMP chairman Estelita Cordero said Poe’s "personality is a unifying factor between interest groups in the country."

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, for her part, said there is no "Solid North" to speak of when it comes to supporting presidential candidates in the May 2004 elections.

Marcos claimed all presidential hopefuls, including Mrs. Arroyo and Poe, trace their roots to the northern provinces.

Marcos said Mrs. Arroyo has roots in Binalonan, Pangasinan while Poe is a native of San Carlos City, also in Pangasinan.

Roco, she said, has the support of two big groups in the Cordilleras while Lacson enjoys the support of other groups in the Ilocos region.

Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan Mayor Antonio Villar said Poe enjoys support from his fellow Pangasinenses.

Villar, the former president of the Pangasinan Mayors League, said a random survey among his provincemates show overwhelming support for Poe.

In the Bicol region, Gov. Al Francis Bichara of Albay said Poe’s announcement has triggered possible political realignments in the province.

"There will be realignments for us local officials because there will be politicians who will be crossing party lines," he said.

While admitting Poe has the following of the masses, Bichara said the movie actor has to organize his own political party to draw the middle and upper class.

FPJPM officials yesterday claimed an exodus of many local officials in Visayas and Mindanao is already underway to support Poe’s candidacy.

But Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said Poe is not likely to get the Cebuano vote claiming Cebuanos are "intelligent voters."

He said Cebuanos are more discriminating when it comes to political candidates.

Down south, many Muslim leaders reacted in jubilation following Poe’s announcement, Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan, executive director of the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) said.

Muslim religious leaders like Imam Abdullah Bato, secretary general of the Iligan City-based Imams League Society, said they prefer Poe over other presidential candidates since he has the impression of being a "good man" untainted by any corruption or scandals.

"Although he is a greenhorn in politics, he might be a good president because he (Poe) appears sincere and has no record whatsoever of corruption," Bato said.

Poe, whose real name is Ronald Allan Poe, was born in Manila on Aug. 20, 1939. He is the second of six children of Filipino actor Fernando Poe Sr. and Elizabeth "Bessie" Kelley, an American born in the Philippines.

He finished grade school in 1953 at San Beda College. He attended San Sebastian College and Mapua Institute of Technology and was in second year high school at the University of the East when he left school for good to join the movies.

He has won best actor awards for Mga Alabok ng Lupa (1967), Asedillo (1971), Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979), Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko (1983), and Magnum .357 (1987). - With Paolo Romero, Artemio Dumlao, Benjie Villa, Katherine Adraneda, Celso Amo, Roel Pareño, Lino de la Cruz, Perseus Echeminada, Eva Visperas, Arnel Ozaeta, Ben Serrano, Christina Birondo, Ann Corvera, AP, AFP, Reuters