This, amid reports that Legarda is courting the camp of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to ensure that she would remain as the opposition’s vice presidential bet in case Poe is disqualified from the presidential race and replaced by Lacson.
Speaking before a thick crowd of well-wishers and supporters in KNP’s lightning rally at the old provincial capitol here, Poe said that while he needs their votes to get elected, he also needs Legarda’s support for his administration as vice president to enable him to govern effectively should he get to Malacanang.
Thus, he said, the people should also ensure Legarda’s victory in the vice presidential race.
"Kailangan ko po si Senator Legarda. Tulungan n’yo s’ya dahil kung hindi, ako’y mapipilayan," FPJ said.
He said that just like him, Legarda has been the target of political attacks because she has emerged as the most formidable vice presidential contender.
"Lahat na ng paninira ginagawa nila sa akin, at pati si Loren (Legarda) sinisiraan," Poe said as he warned that their detractors would have their time when he is elected and installed as the President.
"Antayin nating (mapuno) ang salop (dahil) sa dulo, lilipad ang lawin tungo sa tagumpay," he said.
Poe said reports that his running mate is courting Lacson’s camp are lies intended to destroy her image.
"Nabalitaan ko ‘yun pero tingin ko gimmick lang ‘yon," the KNP presidential bet said.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III, KNP campaign manager, said while it is true that Legarda visited former Cavite Gov. Johnny Remulla, she did so to solicit his support like any other national candidate.
Remulla is one of the known allies of Lacson, a presidential candidate of another opposition wing.
"We are very much convinced in the KNP that Loren would not do such a thing because we all believe that Poe will not be disqualified at all," Sotto said.
Legarda, in another interview, admitted that she asked the support of the Remullas because she believes the political kingpin in Cavite has yet to chose their candidate for vice president.
"FPJ (Poe) will always be my only presidential candidate," she said.
Legarda said she does not even entertain thoughts that the KNP standard bearer would be scratched out of the presidential race.
Former congressman Miguel Romero, KNP spokesman, described as mere "wishful thinking" Lacson’s prediction of a mass exodus in the KNP if Poe is disqualified.
"There will be no exodus because we believe that FPJ is a natural-born Filipino who will not be disqualified from the presidential race if only the Supreme Court will decide on the case against him on its merits and not be swayed by any political consideration," Romero said.
Poe himself expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will decide in his favor, citing the line of questioning the justices threw on its first hearing regarding his citizenship.
Sotto said that following the pattern of questions the SC justices had asked of anti-Poe petitioners, it appeared that 14 magistrates would vote to rule in favor of the actor with only one, Associate Justice Renato Corona, casting a negative vote.
Despite reports the other day that Poe will not make it to the motorcade as he was not feeling well, Nueva Vizcayans still waited for the Poe caravan and the actor did not fail them although was still having colds.
Faith in SC
Opposition vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda expressed confidence yesterday that the Supreme Court (SC) will rule on the citizenship issue of opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. with "justice, fairness and the truth."
Legarda however said that she could not predict what the followers of Poe will do if the SC rule to disqualify the movie actor.
The former Senate majority leader also urged the electorate to be vigilant against cheating in the May 10 national and local elections following the appointment by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the two new controversial members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Legarda described as "worrisome" the appointment of Virgilio Garcillano and Manuel Barcelona Jr. in the commission despite protests from pro-administration Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and opposition Sen. And former Senate president Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr..
Doubts about the impartiality of the two new commissioners increased when, hardly having warmed their seats at the Comelec, they joined a Comelec commissioner petitioned the Supreme Court to disqualify Poe on allegedly because Poe is not a natural-born Filipino, she said.
They should have exercised "delicadeza" by refraining from taking sides on an issue which they have not deliberated upon as members of the commission, she added.
Former senator Francisco S. Tatad, a former Senate majority leader, and Pimentel tagged as "ominous" the position of Barcelona and Garcillano on the result of the May 10 elections.
They asked President Arroyo why she appointed the duo despite their not so sterlingbackgrounds.
In elections, the Comelec, like Ceasar’s wife, must be above suspicion. Otherwise, the credibility of the election could be jeopardized and the people might lose faith in democracy and in the government, Legarda said. (Mario Casayuran)
Unmistakable signal
The followers of opposition presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr., by courageously facing police truncheons and water cannons, have sent an unmistakable signal to the Supreme Court and the government that they and the silent supporters of Poe are watching closely and prepared to go out of the streets in case the Supreme Court rule unfavorably on the Poe citizenship cases.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos referred to the mass action last Thursday of Poe supporters, adding that the rally "punctuated the need for a credible and meticulously impartial deliberation on the question of Poe’s citizenship."
Her observation was shared by Negros Occidental Rep. Jun Lozada, who warned of a military takeover or declaration of martial law should the disqualification case of Poe result in a nationwide unrest.
Marcos warned of another mass action similar to last Thursday’s where "the people turned out by the thousands to show their support for FPJ (Poe) despite the certainty that they would be bludgeoned and blasted off the streets."
"It was a proof of grit and tenacity – and indirectly, a warning," Marcos said.
Lozada said a breakaway group of military officers could take advantage of the situation and execute its plan to take over the government, which could also be supported by political groups in and out of the government.
He said that Poe also has supporters in the military and police who may even "complicate the situation by initiating moves that would break the chain of command."
Either of these two scenarios, he said, is highly possible especially if the "civilian government will show weakness in handling the situation."
Lozada said those in power can entertain the idea of imposing martial law if the situation will deteriorate to the point that the civil disobedience will end in an armed conflict. (Edmer F. Panesa)
Police brutality denounced
The Freedom, Progress, and Justice Crusade, Inc. (FPJ Crusade) yesterday strongly denounced the brutal dispersal by the police of supporters of presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. last Thursday who have converged along Taft Avenue and Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.
"The dispersal is a violation of human rights to peaceful assembly and we’re asking the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident," said FPJ Crusade national president J. Oswald B. Lorenzo, a lawyer and prebar reviewer.
FPJ Crusade national vice president Willie D. Espiritu said some policemen "were even in full battle gear as shown by television news footages of the dispersal operation against the rallyists."
"This blatant and unwarranted display of police power is a threat to the freedom of expression and people’s right to assembly," Espiritu said
Espiritu said there was no need to get a permit for the rally at Plaza Miranda as the place is freedom park.
Lorenzo and Espiritu called on all members of the group nationwide and other FPJ support organization to remain vigilant and light candles everyday at 6 p.m. "with payers for the enlightenment of the Supreme Court to decide immediately all the petitions for the disqualification of Poe."
The Crusade, composed of more than a thousand non-governmental organizations, spearheaded the "Light a Candle for Justice" campaign last Wednesday, the eve of the start of the oral arguments in the Supreme Court of the disqualification cases against Poe.
Movie queen Susan Roces, the wife of Poe, echoed the same appeal to her husband’s supporters.
