Action movie star and opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. yesterday promised a fair trial for his close friend, disgraced ex-president Joseph Estrada, indicating he would not attempt to intervene if elected.
"The closest thing that I would give Erap is a fair trial," he said in an interview with DZRH radio, calling Estrada, also a former actor, by his nickname.
Estrada, who is detained in a military camp outside Manila, was forced to step down amid massive anti-corruption protests in January, 2001. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, his vice president, took over as president to complete his term.
Critics of the former president have expressed fears that Poe, who is also known as FPJ and Da King of Philippine movies, would free Estrada if elected.
Poe, considered the main challenger to Arroyo in the May 10 elections, said Estrada's trial would continue. He did not elaborate.
He said his ability to set up a successful movie production company shows he can lead the nation of 82 million.
"You know, I put up FPJ productions not by mere words," he said. "I did it through perspiration and perseverance."
Poe, who has never held public office and is not a member of any political party, was chosen as standard bearer of a three-party opposition coalition.
His candidacy has unsettled some business people and many from the middle class who fear the 64-year-old high school dropout would be unable to deal with the country's major problems, including a communist insurgency, a Muslim separatist rebellion, unemployment and a ballooning budget deficit.
Being a dropout won't be a hindrance, Poe said.
"I will work really hard and not make promises," he said. "The others just make a lot of promises they never keep."
He said he would "apply the rule of law, good governance and political will" in addressing the country's problems.
"Good governance and political will are all it takes to solve our problems," he said, adding his priority will be improving agricultural production and education, restoring law and order and fighting corruption.
Poe's citizenship is being challenged in the Supreme Court, but he told supporters the truth that he is a Filipino will prevail.
"I want to tell everyone that I am really a Filipino," he said. "I was born here and I will be buried here, so don't worry, the truth will come out."
In his movies, many of which he also produced and directed, Poe often portrayed the role of underdogs who triumph against evil and injustice in the end, endearing him to the masses.
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