Actor cleared to run for president
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Philippines movie star Poe is a popular figure with the masses.
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MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines has cleared action film idol Fernando Poe Jr. to run for president in May 2004 elections.
The nation's election body on Friday rejected a petition questioning his nationality, saying it was dismissed on lack of merit.
Lawyers had argued that because Poe was the illegitimate son of an American mother and a Spanish father, he was not qualified to run in the 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.
"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 late last year.
"Actually, it is not ambition, it is more serving the people and dedicating your life to them."
The film star's bid to run came after business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco's decided 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 has unnerved some investors, 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.
