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Thursday, October 23, 2003
Arroyo unfazed by possible candidacy of FPJ
By She Torres and Jester Manalastas
MANILA -- President Arroyo is not afraid of facing actor Fernando Poe Jr. (popularly known as FPJ) in the 2004 polls, says Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye.
He refused to comment on Poe's lack of experience in governance, but hinted the voting public would not pick Poe just because he is a famous actor.
"It's not for me to judge any particular candidate. The ultimate and best judge would be the Filipino People. I believe the Filipino people are very intelligent and they will make the proper decision at the proper time," he stressed.
Sergio Antonio Apostol, Lakas-CMD deputy spokesman, said Poe would only be a blockbuster in the movies, but not in politics. "We are not looking for a political blockbuster but at a political reality," he said.
"Maawa naman siya sa bayan (Let him have pity on the country). I don't want to criticize FPJ but he should know his qualifications. He has no experience in governance. He's been an actor all his life," he said.
Apostol said it is very difficult for the opposition to have only one candidate because there are other presidential aspirants in their midst.
Lakas is not threatened by the opposition or even Poe, citing their lack of organization, he added.
In case Poe runs, he said the presidential race would revolve around Arroyo, Poe, former education secretary Raul Roco Sr., and Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Senators Juan Flavier, Manny Villar and Vicente Sotto III shared the same sentiments on a possible four-way fight for the presidency.
However, Villar, a member of the People Power Coalition, said President Arroyo is still the choice of the People Power Coalition.
"Members of the PPC will have a dialogue so we can talk among ourselves and discuss what we are going to do in 2004. Of course she (President Arroyo) is the first choice in the PPC," Villar said.
Villar is certain that President Arroyo's candidacy would not be affected when FPJ runs because both of them are popular in different but equal groups.
Instead, he said, Lacson's candidacy would be affected if he insists on running as the opposition's presidential bet.
Flavier, Senate president pro tempore and a die-hard Lakas member, stressed that President Arroyo has an edge if the opposition will not come out with a united choice for its standard bearer.
"The more candidates for the opposition, the better for President Arroyo," Flavier said.
The senator added that some of the votes for Lacson would be affected when FPJ enters into the picture.
Meanwhile, Poe's announcement on whether he would run for president in 2004, through Sotto, was postponed to after All Souls' Day.
Sotto said the actor wants to conduct more consultative meetings with supporters, particularly from the private and business sectors before making his final decision.
Meanwhile, Lacson belittles claims he would be affected with the candidacy of FPJ and expressed optimism he would still be chosen as the opposition standard-bearer.
He said FPJ has not yet expressed interest and that only the other members of the opposition are the ones convincing him to run.
(October 23, 2003 issue)
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