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 Philippine Supreme Court has cleared the way for movie star Fernando Poe Jr to pursue his bid for the presidency.
The justices voted 8 to 5 to reject an effort by Poe's opponents to disqualify the actor on questions about his nationality.
The petition had argued that Poe was born out of wedlock to an American mother and questioned the Filipino citizenship of his father, the son of a Spaniard.
But the court on Wednesday said Poe was a natural-born Philippine citizen under the 1935 constitution having found evidence his father was a Filipino, and cleared him to run for the May 10 elections.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's spokesman was quick to congratulate Poe, saying the decision would give voters a wide choice.
"Let us unify behind democracy, clean elections and the rule of law," said her spokesman, Ignacio Bunye.
The decision means Poe, who has little political or economic experience but is rising in the popularity stakes, is likely to be Arroyo's leading challenger for the nation's highest office.
It has also eased fears that Poe's supporters among the poor would mount a violent backlash if their candidate was booted from the campaign.
Opinion polls show Poe and Arroyo in a virtual tie well ahead of other candidates in the battle for a six-year term as leader of the nation of 82 million people.
A survey released by Social Weather Stations on Wednesday showed Arroyo was the choice of 31.8 percent of decided voters, with the film star backed by 30.5 percent.
At Poe's campaign headquarters, throngs of supporters yelled his nickname, FPJ, and arranged a thanksgiving Mass instead of the mass protests that would have followed an adverse ruling, The Associated Press reported.
Poe, who analysts say is a force to be reckoned with due to his popularity among the poor, has said he is running for president as part of a calling to serve the Philippine people.
"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 decided not to contest the presidency.
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 is seeking a new term -- a turnaround from earlier promises she would 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 and his apparent close ties to the Estrada camp have unnerved some investors, his supporters say he is a clean candidate, untainted by corruption.
The May polls is turning into a race between Poe, Arroyo, former education secretary Raul Roco and former police chief Panfilo Lacson.
Filipinos will also elect officials to fill 17,000 posts at all levels of government, as the nation struggles to overcome widespread graft, poverty, massive debts and ebbing investor confidence.
Copyright 2004 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
