GMA warns voters: Learn from the past

President Arroyo warned that the Philippines could become the laughingstock of the world if voters fail to learn from the mistakes of the past.

The President made the statement during a radio interview when she was asked what will happen to the country if she doesn’t win in the elections this May.

"If we will not learn our lesson from the past, we will become the laughingstock of the world," she said.

Although the President didn’t name any of her political rivals, it was apparent she was alluding to actors-turned-politicians Fernando Poe Jr. and former President Joseph Estrada.

Both Poe and Estrada were popular actors before they entered politics.

Estrada, who was elected by a wide margin in the 1998 elections, was ousted from office in a mass revolt in 2001.

Unlike Estrada, who served as town mayor, senator and vice president before becoming president, Poe has been constantly criticized for having no political experience whatsoever.

The administration coalition K-4 (Koalis-yon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan) has repeatedly used fears of Poe’s inexperience to advance its campaign.

"That’s why we need a team with experience and a strong foundation," the President said in Filipino.

As if to highlight her achievements as compared with Estrada’s, Mrs. Arroyo said that her administration created one million jobs for the unemployed, while the Estrada administration managed to create only 500,000 jobs.

Poe, the country’s biggest movie star, is widely popular but there are growing concerns about his qualifications for the presidential job as he is a high-school dropout with no experience in public service.

Doubts over Poe’s ability to run the country enabled Mrs. Arroyo to overtake him in the latest opinion poll of the respected Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The previous SWS poll taken at the beginning of February had shown Poe with a commanding lead over Mrs. Arroyo, with a 37-percent rating as opposed to her 28.7 percent.

In the latest poll, conducted two weeks later, Poe had fallen to second spot with 30.5 percent, trailing Mrs. Arroyo’s 31.8 percent.

The SWS survey means both of the country’s main polling firms now see the May 10 presidential race as a virtual tie between Mrs. Arroyo and Poe.

A survey taken by Pulse Asia in mid-February showed that 31.9 percent would vote for Mrs. Arroyo while 31.7 percent would elect Poe.

Mrs. Arroyo trailed Poe in voter polls since she announced in October last year that she would seek a full six-year term.

Arroyo administration officials are confident that the President’s lead will widen as the campaign continues.

His rivals have been pressuring him to participate in a televised debate meant to thresh out each other’s programs of government but he has declined.

Critics charge Poe is avoiding a debate to hide his shortcomings.

The political novice has tried to brush aside such challenges, saying "debates divide the people. And they are just talk. They don’t really do anything to help the masses."

She has increased the pressure on Poe, challenging him to debate on his program of government. However, Poe has demurred.

His camp said the scheduled televised debate is just a ploy to discredit their candidate. Poe will come out with television infomercials to explain his program of government.

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.