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Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Poe offers olive branch to Arroyo on election eve (3:15 p.m.)
MANILA -- Opposition candidate Fernando Poe Wednesday offered an olive branch to incumbent Gloria Arroyo as they prepared to face off in next week's presidential election.
The movie star said he had changed his mind and agreed to attend a "unity" Roman Catholic mass on Sunday with the four other presidential candidates ahead of Monday's polls.
"Yes, I will be joining on Sunday. I am going, I will be there," Poe told reporters as he campaigned in Manila's Pandacan district, where thousands of fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the actor.
Poe's camp had rejected the invitation Tuesday, saying he went to mass every day and religious beliefs should not be dragged into politics.
Asked Wednesday if he was confident of becoming the country's 14th president, Poe said: "I hope so."
Asked if he had a message for Arroyo, he said: "I wish her good health and may she always be happy."
Arroyo has a small lead in opinion polls ahead of Monday's vote, although most analysts say there are a large number of undecided voters who could swing the election either way.
The mass, sponsored by former president Corazon Aquino, is to be held at the San Agustin Cathedral to pray for clean, honest and peaceful balloting. (AFP) |
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