|
Monday, November 24, 2003
On FPJ 2004 plan: Cebu will ‘vote wisely’
By Karen M. Flores and Jasmin G. Suma-oy
CEBU -- Local politicians warned Sunday about electing another actor to Malacañang, after Fernando Poe Jr. confirmed to a national paper that he is indeed running for president next year.
However, Cebu Vice Gov. John Gregory “John-john” Osmeña, his uncle, Promdi chairman Lito Osmeña and Agriculture Undersecretary Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. were optimistic that no matter how the rest of the country votes, Cebuanos will choose wisely.
“At least ang mga Cebuano, antigo mo-pili,” said Martinez.
Poe, 64, is consistently one of the top five preferred candidates cited in national surveys since last year.
Asked why he thought he should lead this country of 80 million people, Poe told the Philippine Star: “Because I am not beholden to anybody. And because I am not corrupt.”
“I had nothing to do with politics. No political ambition whatsoever. But the clamor was there,” said Poe, who now wants to be the opposition’s standard-bearer.
Still, Vice Governor Osmeña remained optimistic that Filipino voters will look at “merit and achievement” in choosing a president.
He added that Poe cannot be faulted for his decision because he appears to meet the minimum requirements for the position provided in the 1987 Constitution.
Name recall
Minimum requirements aside, it is clear that Poe is not the right candidate because he has no experience, said Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Carlos Co in a separate interview.
“Hopefully, he will change his mind. For the meantime, we have to accept his decision because this is a democratic country. Let the voters decide whom to vote for,” Co told Sun.Star.
Martinez and Lito recalled that in 1998, deposed president Joseph Estrada fared very poorly in Cebu because Lito won by a landslide.
Martinez said in a phone interview that the more candidates there are, the better for President Arroyo, the administration candidate, because this would divide the opposition vote.
He admitted that it would be difficult if it were a head-to-head fight between the President and Poe because of the actor’s popularity. “That’s why it’s very discouraging, these new people who come in and rely merely on name recall,” said Martinez, a veteran politician of 31 years.
How to choose
For his part, Lito’s first reaction to the news was, “God help the Philippines.”
He differed with Martinez and said the development is “bad news for Arroyo and good news for (former education secretary Raul) Roco.”
Lito said Arroyo had tried to court Poe as well as Estrada’s camp in the past in the hope of getting him on her side. Without additional support from Estrada’s camp, Roco could inch closer to the presidency, he noted.
Lito is endorsing Roco for president.
Instead of endorsing personalities, CCCI through its program “Philippines for Good Governance” will issue next month a set of criteria to help the voters better decide whom to choose.
From the preliminary discussions of the business sector, Co said they have decided not to vote for FPJ, for his lack of experience.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will also undertake a massive information drive to guide voters in the May 2004 polls, said Msgr. Monsignor Hernando Coronel, CBCP secretary- general.
Narrow agenda
Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) said he believes the voters will elect a President who is competent, honest and with integrity.
“I’m sure FPJ does not possess any of those three. I think the Filipino people already learned a lesson when they elected Erap. I don’t think they would commit the same mistake next year,” Cuenco said.
Cuenco was not surprised by the report about FPJ’s decision to run, saying the administration has always counted him in.
“I’m sure GMA is going to prevail over him. The Filipino people are very intelligent. They’ve learned a lesson,” the congressman said.
Alvin Dizon, chairman of the Center for Participatory Governance chairman, for his part, said: “The political party that nominates him does not have the Filipino people in mind but its narrow agenda.”
“The people have no choice but to be more vigilant,” he added. |
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Cops foil kidnapping, arrest 4 'kidnappers'