It’s official: FPJ files bid

Promising to forge unity in a nation divided for over three years, movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. went to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to register as a presidential candidate of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP).

Surrounded by thousands of fans who trooped to the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila, "Da King" of Philippine movies arrived at around 10 a.m. with his running mate, Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda, and six KNP senatorial aspirants to file their certificates of candidacy.

Clad in a barong and black pants, the 64-year-old Poe, best known for his movie portrayal of "Ang Panday," a blacksmith bestowed with magical powers against the forces of evil, was accompanied by his wife, movie star Susan Roces.

Poe made no statement and simply waved to the crowd from a balcony while the Comelec’s Marine security detail struggled to hold back his fans who chanted, "FPJ! FPJ!"

The supporters held up banners saying "We love FPJ" and rushed the building, alarming officials who stopped the influx of people into the poll body’s second floor session hall for fear that the centuries-old structure might collapse.

After posing for photographs with Legarda and the KNP senatorial candidates, Poe and his entourage were led to a side exit and whisked away by car, leaving the chanting crowd.

Legarda, 43, who as a senator supported the ouster of Poe’s bosom friend, former President Joseph Estrada, resigned as vice president of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party in October following disagreements with party members.

She built a career as a TV journalist at ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ largest network, and promoted women’s rights and environmental issues in the Senate.

Estrada’s supporters say they will fully back Poe but are suspicious of Legarda.

Nevertheless, Poe drafted Legarda to run for vice president under the opposition coalition formed by Poe’s supporters, led by Sen. Edgardo Angara, president of the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

Poe was the 47th individual to register as a presidential candidate but the poll body will likely disqualify most "presidentiables" except President Arroyo, former education secretary Raul Roco, Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Christian evangelist Eddie Villanueva.

Poe’s spokesman, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, later said the FPJ-Loren tandem is a "perfect team up."

"It epitomizes a healing partnership that this divided nation needs very badly. People will vote FPJ and Loren into office because of their complementing strengths," Sotto said in a statement.

"An FPJ-Loren tandem is not only unbeatable at the polls, it (will) also be what the doctor would prescribe for our ailing nation," he added.

Sotto said a Poe-Lagarda administration "would be marked by dialogue, confidence building and reconciliation, with emphasis on truth and justice."

"For the first time in Philippine history, we have a presidential bet and a vice presidential candidate who together have the support of the entire spectrum of Philippine society," Sotto said.

Senatorial Ticket

Wide-spectrum representation was apparently a main consideration in the selection of the KNP senatorial ticket what with candidates being drawn from camps identified with the last four administrations.

The KNP’s senatorial lineup include former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Francisco Tatad and Ernesto Herrera; former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, former National Youth Commission chairwoman Amina Rasul, former presidential adviser Jamby Madrigal; re-electionist Senators John Henry Osmeña and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and congressmen Didagen Dilangalen of Maguindanao and Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya.

Rep. Imee Marcos of Ilocos Norte was still mulling whether to join the slate or run for re-election.

Only Enrile, Lim, Rasul, Madrigal and Dilangalen filed their certificates of candidacy with Poe yesterday as Osmeña and Pimentel had already filed theirs earlier.

Santiago, Tatad, Herrera, Marcos and Padilla are expected to register their candidacies on or before Jan. 5, the last day for filing.

The Comelec expects about 450,000 candidates to contest more than 12,000 national, local and congressional posts on May 10 - from the president to municipal leaders. Filing of candidacies ends Jan. 5, and the 90-day campaign period starts Feb. 10.

Madrigal, for her part, expressed confidence the opposition will unite before the elections and that the people will know that the KNP team can best represent them after the polls.

Madrigal, granddaughter of the late Supreme Court Justice Jose Abad Santos, is the spokesperson for the Kontra Pulitika Movement, a youth-based group calling for an end to excessive politicking in government.

Poe is seen as a serious threat to Mrs. Arroyo’s election hopes because of his widespread popularity as an actor.

But there are some concerns about his close friendship with Estrada, also a former movie star, who was ousted for alleged corruption amid massive protests in 2001 and is now detained on charges of plunder.

Poe has visited his longtime friend several times in custody, and Estrada’s opponents fear Poe would eventually free him if elected. But the actor has dismissed talk of a possible pardon as premature.

Poe agreed last month to run on behalf of a three-party opposition coalition, after supporters said they had gathered 2 million signatures in support of his bid.

Despite his popularity, however, Poe’s candidacy has unsettled the business community, which fears he could mirror Estrada’s failed presidency if elected. The movie star has not held any office and has not yet disclosed his platform.

Poe has often portrayed an underdog in his movies, crippling enemies with his famous rapid punches and fancy tricks with a caliber .45 automatic. He has also played real life heroes, including decorated policemen, and has appeared in several World War II movies as a soldier or guerrilla fighting Japanese invaders. — With Mike Frialde, wire reports