ROCO: WHO'S AFRAID OF FERNANDO POE, JR?

MANILA, OCTOBER 23, 2003  (STAR) By Sheila Crisostomo  - Presidential aspirant Raul Roco welcomed yesterday the possible bid for the presidency of movie king Fernando Poe Jr., who is being groomed to run for the political opposition in next year’s elections.

Asked to comment on Poe’s possible run, Roco told a press briefing: "The more candidates, the better for the Filipino people. I’m sure we can rely on the Filipino people to vote for the candidate that can bring about change and hope."

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party (LP) said it is expanding its ranks as part of its efforts to revitalize the party, especially in the provinces.

Roco remained confident that will rake in more votes than Poe, citing his consistently high public approval ratings in opinion polls.

"The Filipino people are intelligent voters. They judge the candidates according to qualifications. They will vote for people who can bring about change in the country," he said.

Roco refused to comment on Poe’s qualifications, except saying that even entertainers possess the basic qualifications for president required by the Constitution.

"So the experience of a candidate in justice and implementing the law, in managing the executive department, in consecrating and dedicating himself to many, many problems to be solved is part of the qualification. An entertainer can have those qualifications," he said. "I ask you to apply it to whoever is running."

Poe — better known by his initials FPJ — is expected to announce his decision today on whether or not to make a bid for the presidency.

The camp of deposed President Joseph Estrada, Poe’s best friend, has been urging Poe to run but the immensely popular actor is reportedly not interested in politics.

Roco believes that Poe’s popularity will not be enough to propel him to Malacañang, saying that Filipinos do not want a repeat of the Estrada presidency.

Meanwhile, the LP announced yesterday that it has strengthened its ranks and expanded its membership in the province of Antique.

Four mayors, nine vice mayors, five provincial board members, 29 municipal councilors and 14 barangay chairmen in the province took their oaths of allegiance yesterday before Rep. Florencio Abad, LP president; Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, the party’s executive vice president and other party leaders.

"We are confident that the Liberal Party will only get stronger as it takes in more members. Morale is at an all-time high and our members remain staunchly committed to the party’s principles and program of government," Atienza said.

The LP is one of the Philippines’ oldest political parties, whose members included the late President Diosdado Macapagal. Macapagal’s daughter, President Arroyo, is the party’s honorary chairperson.