|
Thursday, December 11, 2003
United Opposition names FPJ as presidential bet
MANILA -- The United Opposition or the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) formally declared Wednesday movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., king of Philippine movies, as its standard bearer to challenge President Arroyo in the 2004 elections.
Poe, who was absent at the proclamation at the Intercon Hotel in Makati City, thanked his supporters and KNP leaders through a speakerphone from an undisclosed location.
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, 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.
Dialog
Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson believed that Poe would wait for their one-on-one meeting before formally accepting the nomination of the United Opposition.
He said this is the main reason why Poe did not immediately respond to the proclamation of the KNP.
"Mr. Poe is a true gentleman, he wanted to go through a fair and just selection process before giving his final decision. I think he didn't see the selection process as being fair that is why he wants to think things over)," Lacson added.
On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto II said the actor would accept the nomination of the party not later than Thursday and he would do it in a written form.
Goal
Ernesto Maceda, president emeritus of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), said crime, corruption and confusion would be prevented if Poe would lead the country.
The former senator added the United Opposition's common goal is to help the people in times of crisis and uncertainty.
"We are here to express solidarity with other opposition groups in a common purpose to assure a better life for our people. We cannot afford another six years of crime, corruption and confusion," he added.
Maceda also said the NPC will meet after Jan. 2 to decide on its candidate for 200,4 but majority of the members of the NPC would recommend adopting FPJ as the party's presidential candidate.
Not giving up
Meanwhile, Pimentel Jr. is still running for the presidency, contrary to a report that he is giving up his presidential bid and after the United Opposition chose Poe as its standard-bearer.
"APJ (Aquilino Pimentel Jr) is still in the game. Until the last day of the filing of the certificate of candidacy on Jan. 2, 2004, it is still anybody's game as to who in the ranks of the opposition would be the standard-bearer," Pimentel said in a statement.
Pimentel also said Poe should run for vice president instead, as suggested by some non-government organizations (NGOs) in Mindanao.
Veep bets
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.
PMP is made up of supporters of his close friend, ousted president Joseph Estrada, another former movie star.
Enrile said the coalition chose Poe, a high-school drop-out with no experience in public service, because of "his patriotism and humanity, his sterling leadership and success in the movie industry".
Enrile, who headed a candidate selection committee, also cited "the trust, respect and confidence he commands from the general public," as well as recent surveys putting him at the top of presidential aspirants ahead of Arroyo.
Presidential hopeful, opposition Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Wednesday removed a hurdle for Poe by giving up his own election aspirations to back the man regarded as the "John Wayne" of the Philippines.
As he has yet to reveal his campaign platform, opposition leaders point as much to Poe's on-screen character as they do his own to justify his candidacy.
Over more than 50 years of movie-making, he is best known for his roles as pure-hearted, mild-mannered heroes who only fought back when pushed too far.
Poe's strong showing in polls has worried the business community, however.
His candidacy led to sharp drops in the currency and stock markets as investors saw too many similarities with the ill-fated presidency of Estrada, another movie star who was elected in 199,8 but was ousted in a popular uprising in 2001. Miko Santos/JPM
(December 11, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Eight killed in Baguio nightclub fire