MANILA, 26 October 2003 — Thousands of Filipinos urged the country’s most popular action film star yesterday to stand for president in next May’s election, a move that would pose a formidable challenge to incumbent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and causing worries to businessmen.
Supporters of 63-year old Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ, some of them in shorts, shirts and flip-flops, flocked to a rally at the Cuneta Astrodome in suburban Pasay City to show their support.
Police estimated the crowd at between 9,000 and 12,000.
Traders said the Philippine peso had fallen to near two-month lows of 55.40 to the dollar on Friday, partly due to worries that the hugely popular Poe might agree to be the opposition standard-bearer in May.
Opposition legislators have said they are considering drafting Poe, who is widely known in the Philippines as FPJ, as their candidate.
“With all the support he is getting, maybe he will agree to run,” said Louie Prado, 25, pointing at the packed Cuneta Astrodome.
A streamer displayed inside the stadium read: “Run FPJ run! You are the real eagle who can whisk away the opportunists.” Two giant screens showed FPJ’s old films.
Ruben Cadsawan, leader of the FPJ for President Movement (FPJPM), has said the actor recently told him he would make an announcement soon.
“We want change in government. Corruption is happening left and right,” said 55-year old Marcelino Motarte, who claims to be leader of a group which counts former Muslim rebels and communist guerrillas among its members.
Poe, with no background in economics and politics, is seen by analysts as a serious opponent for Arroyo, although some believe he is tainted by his close friendship with former president Joseph Estrada.
Estrada, also a local film icon, is currently detained on charges of economic plunder.
Arroyo, an economist who stepped up from vice president when Estrada was ousted in 2001, announced early this month she would run for a fresh term next May.
Still Hedging
Poe, however, continued to hedge on his plans and showed little interest in politics despite the emotionally charged atmosphere.
At the FPJPM rally, he only said eight short words, none of which indicated he was a candidate for president in May 2004.
“Sana po isang araw makakaganti ako sa inyo (I hope someday I can repay you),” he said as fans jumped onstage with him.
After the non-declaration, Poe was presented with documents supposedly bearing the signatures of two million Filipinos urging him to run.
Poe’s brief appearance — not even 15 minutes — was punctuated by shouts of “FPJ, FPJ.”
The organizers of the event were undeterred. Cadsawan said he still hoped the actor would consider running for president.
“Hindi niya natiis ang Cuneta, yun pa kayang Pilipinas? (He could not bear to disappoint the crowd at Cuneta, what more the country?” said Cadsawan.
Jude Estrada, the younger son of jailed ex-President Joseph Estrada, Poe’s best friend who is believed to be strongly pressuring Poe to run, arrived at about 4 p.m. and was whisked off to a room.
The 63-year-old Poe, with no background in economics and politics, is seen by analysts as a serious opponent for President Gloria Arroyo, although some believe he is tainted by his close friendship with Estrada who is on trial on corruption charges.
Opposition legislators have said they are considering drafting Poe — widely known to his legions of fans as “FPJ” and “Da King,” short for “King of Philippine Movies” — as their candidate in the 2004 national elections.
The decline of the peso over the possibility that Poe will run did not matter to his fans. “We want change in government. Corruption is happening left and right,” said 55-year-old Marceliono Motarte, who claims to be a leader of a group which counts former Muslim rebels and communist guerillas among its members.
Ace Manalang, a former mayor of Tarlac province, said he came because he knew Poe to be a good man who would be a good president.
He said he has met Poe and believes even his inexperience would work better for the people.
“I am here to support those who want our beloved friend FPJ ... They know he is a good man,” said Ferrer.
