Sonny O: Southerners want to know who’s advising FPJ

Sen. John Osmeña dared yesterday Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III to reveal the names of the advisers of action star Fernando Poe Jr.

"No matter how good a man may be, he could not have the command of all information and resources needed to run the country," he said.

"That is why it is important that Senator Sotto and Poe identify who would be providing FPJ with the information and resources needed to run the country," Osmeña said.

He said the identity of FPJ’s advisers would allay fears on the direction his administration would take if he is elected president.

"The people from the Visayas and Mindanao want to find out through the identification of FPJ’s advisers if their interests would be amply protected," he said.

"There is a perception that FPJ is being surrounded only by advisers from Imperial Manila."

Osmeña said people from the South want to know if FPJ is ready to "clip the wings of Imperial Manila" to spread power, development and resources to areas away from the seat of government.

"Upcoming policies could be gleaned from the known ideas of the people around FPJ," he said. "We would also get to know if those from the left would be actively involved in FPJ’s campaign."

Osmeña said neither FPJ nor Sotto have identified the members of the economic team, which Poe had earlier said he would form.

"Sotto said he would not be surprised if leaders of the Philippine Chambers of Commerce and Industry would help FPJ in formulating an economic development or economic recovery program," he said.

Some "left-leaning personalities" appear to support FPJ’s candidacy for president, he added. — Jose Rodel Clapano