FPJ candidacy may be remote

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Reports that action star Fernando Poe Jr. would seek the presidency to usher in a shift to a parliamentary system of government and install businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco as prime minister are "pure" speculation.

"That’s too cinematic," said Bataan Gov. Leonardo Roman, a stalwart of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). "He (Poe) is winnable and popular, but after that, what? The memory of former President (Joseph) Estrada is still fresh in the minds of the people."

Roman said "no such thing was ever discussed" when he attended the NPC executive meeting at Cojuangco’s residence in Metro Manila recently. "We can’t afford an inexperienced person in the situation our country is in."

Roman said Cojuangco had initially imposed a Sept. 30 deadline for him to decide on whether to run for president next year, but NPC leaders had convinced him to defer it because of "daily major developments."

"We (in the NPC) are still hoping that the ambassador (Cojuangco) will run for president because he is the person we need in our turbulent times," he said.

"Of all four probably presidential candidates, people, especially those in the business sector, see Danding as the best alternative amid our peace and order, economic, and other problems."

However, Roman said the NPC is still assessing "major developments" before coming out with a decision on whom to support as presidential bet. The NPC is still negotiating with other parties for a stronger opposition coalition that would field a common presidential bet, he added.