‘Stronger opposition emerging’

A stronger political opposition is apparently emerging in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision dismissing the election protest of late actor Fernando Poe Jr., taken up by his widow, Susan Roces, against President Arroyo.

"Finally, various opposition groups are uniting and we are growing stronger," House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, secretary general of the United Opposition (UNO), said yesterday.

He said there were two significant personalities who attended the UNO meeting for the first time on Thursday night.

"They are Susan Roces and (Representative) Ronnie (Ronaldo) Zamora (of San Juan)," he said.

Roces went to the opposition meeting only hours after questioning the legitimacy of the Arroyo presidency.

"We have always considered Susan as part of us since we decided to support the presidential candidacy of the late FPJ," said Escudero, who served as Poe’s spokesman during the election campaign and the congressional canvass.

As for Zamora, Escudero said the San Juan congressman came with Representatives Agapito "Butz" Aquino of Makati and Rolex Suplico of Iloilo.

"Ronnie attended for the first time, but Butz and Rolex have attended previous meetings," he said.

Zamora, Aquino and Suplico supported the failed presidential bid of opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Escudero said Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile did not attend the meeting, nor did representatives of the group of Sen. Edgardo Angara, Lacson’s nemesis since the May 2004 election campaign.

Enrile, who is president of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, the political party founded by ousted President Joseph Estrada, had bolted the Senate minority after voting for the value-added tax bill, an administration measure.

In a related development, administration allies in the House of Representatives urged Enrile to join the majority in the Senate, saying he would be of invaluable aid to the Arroyo leadership.

They said by voting for the VAT bill, the long-time defense minister of the late President Ferdinand Marcos extended cooperation with the administration at a time when it was most needed.

Other administration congressmen urged Susan Roces to stop harping on the legitimacy of the Arroyo government, saying it "is already a dead issue."

Majority Leader Prospero Nograles, and Representatives Prospero Pichay of Surigao del Sur and Eduardo Veloso of Leyte said now that the Supreme Court has thrown out the protests of Poe and his widow against the President, Roces should move on and criticize responsibly, if she wants to start a new role as an oppositionist.

They chided the widow for saying she would not join street protests being planned by Poe’s supporters and at the same time declaring that she cannot stop her husband’s angry followers.

"That is like giving them the go-signal to destabilize the government," they said.

Roces meanwhile says she has kept herself busy to lessen the pain of widowhood.

Since Poe’s death last Dec. 14, Roces said she makes sure she always has company to fight loneliness.

"There is not an ordinary day for me ever since FPJ passed away. Every day is a busy day. I think that those busy days — and I look forward to more busy days — somehow keep delayed my being lonesome," she said.

Roces said it makes her happy that her friends are all concerned about her.

"It makes me very happy to know that you are all concerned. Along the way I get additional friends," she said, adding that she has accepted FPJ’s passing.

"I already accepted my husband’s death because all of us are destined there," she said.

In the meantime, she will concentrate on family matters.

"I will not be doing any movies yet. Until the right role is offered to me, I must prioritize first the things I need to do for my family," she said.

Roces said she will continue to reach out and help people whom Poe had touched in his lifetime.

Malacañang meanwhile continued to downplay the tirades of Roces, saying the government has more important problems to deal with.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Roces and her supporters should work with the government for the stability and development of the country.

"We just want to reiterate that we are already faced with so many problems. If we are stable, we can easily solve all these and fast-track our growth," he said. — With Jose Rodel Clapano, Aurea Calica