Lacson: Angara biased for FPJ

Presidential hopeful Sen. Panfilo Lacson has expressed dismay over what he called "unfair" actuations by Sen. Edgardo Angara and other opposition leaders in pushing for the candidacy of movie action king Fernando Poe Jr.

Lacson cited the "roadshow" of the united opposition led by the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), which was canceled several times because Poe was a no-show.

"The roadshow (in Legazpi City, Albay) was moved (from its original schedule of Nov. 14 to Nov. 27) because FPJ (Poe) was not available. It means that the roadshow is intended for FPJ. That is unfair to other presidential hopefuls," Lacson said in an interview over ANC cable television.

On the other hand, Angara said Lacson was being "childish."

He added the opposition roadshow scheduled for Nov. 27 in Legazpi City will push through even without Lacson.

"Let him (Lacson) not attend the roadshow, The roadshow will continue with or without Lacson," Angara said.

Lacson also lamented Angara’s decision to convince Poe to join the LDP and submit himself to the selection process for standard-bearer of the united opposition.

Lacson said he had precisely avoided the provincial roadshows, which he claimed were only meant to bolster Poe’s presidential bid.

The opposition lawmaker also noted the numerous pronouncements of Angara and Sen. Vicente Sotto III that Poe is set to announce his candidacy in the near future.

Lacson stressed Angara and Sotto are obviously pushing the Poe candidacy.

He said the action star is not even a member of the LDP and therefore, should not be included in the opposition process of selecting the standard-bearer.

In a separate interview with radio dzBB, Lacson himself admitted that Angara, president of the LDP of which he is a member, is not inclined to select him as presidential candidate.

"Mukhang ayaw niya sa akin (It seems he doesn’t like me)," Lacson said.

Lacson, however, said he would still respect the selection process in coming up with the common candidate for the opposition for the May 2004 elections.

"If the majority doesn’t choose me, I’ll remain a senator until 2007 but it should be a (decision of the) clear majority done through a well-defined selection process," he said.

Lacson also declined to reveal the highlights of his recent meeting with the actor.

"Our agreement is that nothing will be revealed to the public in the meantime, I want to honor that agreement. I just want to respect what we talked about and there was no disagreement between FPJ and I," Lacson said.

"As I have said several times already, it’s either the presidency or I will remain a senator until the end of my term in 2007," he said.

Lacson also told a separate interview that preparations for his presidential campaign are now under way.

Angara also belittled earlier claims made by Lacson of crisis in the opposition ranks.

On the possibility that intraparty disputes will prevent the process of choosing their common standard-bearer, Angara said as leader of the LDP, he has the power to choose the presidential candidate. "I will use my authority to choose our standard-bearer," he said.

Sotto, for his part, said he will intervene between Angara and Lacson and put a stop to their word war.

A word war between Angara and Lacson for the votes of the LDP membership, and possibly the entire opposition, has been brewing of late.

LDP stalwart Makati Rep. Agapito Aquino noted the friction between the two leaders signaled a rift between supporters of Lacson and Poe.

Aquino, the LDP secretary, cited the open support made by Angara for Poe, while many opposition congressmen support Lacson.

To prevent further rifts in the ranks of the opposition, both Angara and Sotto had announced Poe has agreed to submit himself to the selection process.

Sotto claimed this was the "gentleman’s agreement" between Poe and Lacson in their meeting at the actor’s residence in San Juan last Friday.

Angara said Poe has until the end of November to announce his candidacy since the period for the filing of candidacies for next year’s presidential, congressional and local elections begins on Dec. 15.

The LDP is the third largest political party in the country, followed by the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) which was founded by Poe’s bosom buddy, jailed former President Joseph Estrada.

Lacson has questioned the LDP selection process and threatened to break ranks if Angara insists on "ramming down" Poe’s nomination.