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Monday, February 16, 2004
Public urged to be calm if FPJ is disqualified
By Ben O. Tesiorna
* Duterte, Nograles say people should accept Supreme Court decision
* Nograles says threat of Edsa 4 is just a bluff of those behind FPJ to create illusion of strength
REMAIN calm, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Rep. Prospero "Boy" Nograles urged Dabawenyos over reports of a possible uprising once actor Fernando Poe Jr. is disqualified by the Supreme Court (SC) from seeking the presidency.
Duterte said the people should wait for the final decision of the SC and abide by it.
Nograles, for his part, said that threats of an Edsa 4 uprising by the camp of actor Fernando Poe Jr. is "just a bluff" and a desperate propaganda gimmick in an effort to prevent Poe's political party, the Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), from falling apart.
Responding to claims by the Poe camp that people will take to the streets to launch another popular revolt in case the actor is disqualified, Nograles said this would never materialize because public attention is already geared towards the May 10 elections.
"Maybe they can gather a few thousand of supporters and launch rallies but that's all they can do. Our people would rather wait for the result of the election rather than waste their time on protest rallies," said Nograles.
Nograles said he is sure the military would not support Poe, who is openly being supported by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) - New People's Army (NPA).
He added that a large faction of the opposition, particularly that of presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson, will refuse to join such "useless and unconstitutional exercise."
"The camp of FPJ is obviously desperate because perhaps they know very well that existing legal precedents all points to his disqualification. That's the reason why they are now trying to use threats to pressure the Supreme Court to decide in FPJ's favor," Nograles said.
Nograles said he reviewed the disqualification case against Poe, and that there is factual basis for the actor's disqualification.
He said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) only decided to dismiss the case against Poe because it really has no jurisdiction to decide on disqualification issues concerning candidates seeking national elective posts.
"The SC is really the right forum that could decide on this issue... and from where I stand as a lawyer, I can say that while he (Poe) may be a Filipino, I am not certain that he is a natural-born Filipino," said Nograles, adding that its best that the Supreme Court fast track on the disqualification case "for the good of the Filipino people."
(February 16, 2004 issue)
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