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Wednesday, December 10, 2003
United Opposition picks FPJ as presidential bet (5:00 p.m.)
By Miko Santos
The Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) formally proclaimed movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., popularly known as FPJ, as its presidential candidate in 2004.
Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, head of the KNP nomination committee, read a resolution that said Poe was chosen after a series of "meticulous, diligent, and thorough deliberations" and after studying the character of the nominees.
"With God's grace and will, the man we have proclaimed may well become the next president of the Philippines," Enrile said.
He said Poe was chosen over the other nominees for his, among others, "humility as a person, well-known honesty, integrity in dealing with others, his behavior as a family man, and his capacity to reunify the shattered society."
Others considered as the opposition's standard-bearer were Sens. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban, Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).
However, Poe did not say whether he was accepting the nomination but assured his followers that he would let them know his answer "immediately."
Poe, who was absent, relayed his sentiment in a phone call to Senate Minority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III, who has been acting as his spokesman.
"In my whole life, I have not yet experienced being given the kind of trust that you have given me," Poe said in Filipino.
"I will let you know my answer immediately. To all of you, thank you, " said the actor, a first time candidate for an elective post in government.
"You just know how I feel today, thank you for all your support," Poe added.
Meanwhile, those being considered as the opposition bloc's candidate for vice president include Sens. Loren Legarda-Leviste, Honasan and Pimentel and former Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
The KNP is composed of the LDP, the PDP-Laban, and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of deposed president Joseph Estrada.
(December 11, 2003 issue)
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