Film star seeks presidential role
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Philippines movie star Poe is a popular figure with the masses.
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MANILA, Philippines -- Action film idol Fernando Poe Jr. has announced he will run for the Philippines presidency in May 2004 elections.
Poe, who has little political or economic experience, is likely to be the flagbearer for the opposition's bid to unseat President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo though he says he does not yet have a political party backing him.
"Since last year, when I went around the Philippines, I saw what the people need and I saw the clamor, and I cannot turn my back," Poe told supporters and media at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday.
"Actually, it is not ambition, it is more serving the people and dedicating your life to them."
The film star's announcement follows business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco's decision not to contest the presidency.
Cojuangco -- the 68-year-old chairman of the San Miguel Corp, which sells nine of every 10 beers in the Philippines -- said he had not decided whom to support in the election but may end up backing Poe.
Poe, 64, follows in the footsteps of fellow movie star Joseph Estrada, who won the last presidential election in 1998.
Estrada was ousted in January 2001 in a popular uprising over corruption charges. Arroyo took over as leader and recently announced she would seek a new term -- a turnaround from earlier promises to not contest the election.
Despite vowing to tackle corruption, Arroyo's tenure has been dogged by claims of graft as well as unrest in the Philippine armed forces.
Though Poe's lack of experience unnerved markets on Tuesday after reports he would run for presidency, his supporters say he is a clean candidate, untainted by corruption.
The May polls could turn into a race between Poe, Arroyo, former education secretary Raul Roco and former police chief Panfilo Lacson.
Investors have expressed concern over Poe's apparent close ties to the Estrada camp.
Though Poe has been trailing in recent opinion polls, analysts say he may be a force to be reckoned with due to his popularity among the poor -- a key power base in Estrada's rise to the top.
