FPJ vows to fight poverty

Fernando Poe Jr. kicked off his election campaign yesterday with a promise to fight poverty, which he described as the "greatest scandal in our history."

He gave his first vague details about how he plans to tackle the country’s huge economic problems in a three-hour, huge made-for-television rally, complete with song and dance numbers and showbiz celebrities.

"We need change, change for a brighter future and an end to turbulent and dirty politics where our countrymen suffer from," Poe said in a 12-minute speech to thousands of wildly cheering supporters that jampacked the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

"I will lead you, but I need you," he said. "We need a leadership that will apply the rule of law, we need a leadership that has political will."

Poe did not refer directly to the numerous economic problems wracking the nation but tried to allay concerns that he was unqualified for the job.

He also refrained from attacking President Arroyo, who has emphasized her greater government experience over her main rival.

Polls have shown Poe to be well ahead in the presidential race but his failure to explain his business policies has led to uncertainty in the business sector and hit the foreign exchange and stock markets.

In an attempt to bolster his business reputation, Sen. Vicente Sotto III, spokesman for Poe’s Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), promised that Poe would name his panel of economic advisers by next week and identified three prominent economists as part of the group.

"It will be centered on peace and unification, education, rediscovery of Pinoy (Filipino) values, agriculture, and leadership," he said.

His party released a "social covenant" after his speech and gave some clues on Poe’s position on economic issues.

To remedy the country’s chronic budget deficit, Poe said government must carry out "drastic cost-cutting measures on non-essential expenditures" and "institute bold tax reforms to improve revenue collection."

He said the government must "explore the possibility of a balanced budget," but did not give details.

Poe also said government must ensure "food security" by increasing funds for rural infrastructure and use foreign aid to finance low interest credit windows for farmers and fishermen.

He also said the government would boost health insurance coverage to 90 percent of the population by 2007 but did not elaborate. He also said the police should be cleaned of "rogue elements."

The covenant also called for "an in-depth review" into reforming the country’s current form of government from a presidential system to a parliamentary one.

Poe’s vice-presidential running mate, Sen. Loren Legarda, said she would make education, health care, the environment and law and order as her top priorities.

Legarda said she has not discussed with Poe how she would serve in his administration or if she will be given a Cabinet portfolio.

"I can work in any capacity. I just want to help him help our country," she told reporters in an interview after the rally. "We don’t talk about deals. We don’t talk what position, how much and all of that. We just talk about transparency in governance, we just talk about how we can govern our people well."

Poe’s wife, veteran actress Susan Roces, gave a brief speech and appealed for supporters to help her husband make a difference.

Poe’s kick-off rally had the look and feel of an entertainment show, with confetti and dancing spotlights. Veteran comedian Dolphy introduced Poe onstage.

Comedians Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, hosts of the popular noon-time television show "Eat Bulaga" sang "Ako’y Isang Pinoy" (I’m a Filipino), taking a swipe at two petitions pending with the Supreme Court seeking Poe’s disqualification because of questions on his citizenship.

Award-winning actor Eddie Garcia cracked jokes about Poe’s citizenship.

Poe’s senatorial candidates each gave three-minute speeches, interspersed with cheering squad acts by the Sex Bomb Dancers.

All eyes are expected to be on Poe, a 64-year-old multi-millionaire high school dropout who is idolized by many in the country but has never held public office.

The peso has fallen to all-time lows, Philippine sovereign debt has been downgraded, and share prices have been on a roller-coaster since Poe announced his candidacy in November.

Investor concerns have been further stoked by his decision to pack his campaign team with aides of his friend and fellow movie star, ex-President Joseph Estrada as well men with close links to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Both Marcos, whose 20-year rule ended in his flight to Hawaii in 1986, and Estrada were forced from office by popular uprisings.

Despite his very public persona as an actor, Poe is a man of few words. Even in his films he usually let his fists do the talking.

Poe’s few statements on the country’s pressing problems have been brief and broad.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, who is seeking re-election under Poe’s coalition, said yesterday’s rally, however, showed that Poe had more to say.

"Poe showed he can speak more than one liners, and even in public rallies he can spell out basics such as platforms," Pimentel said. — With Edith Regalado, AFP