Noli-FPJ team still possible?

A "Kabayan and Panday" team for next May’s elections is still possible, the Kabayan for President Movement (KPM), which is pushing Sen. Noli de Castro to run for president, said yesterday.

"There is a big possibility that we will see a ‘Kabayan-Ang Panday’ team in next year’s elections," said Isko Katibayan, spokesman for the KPM. "We are not giving up on this."

Action star Fernando Poe Jr. is best remembered for his role as "Ang Panday" (the blacksmith), who forged a magical sword and fought the forces of evil in a series of box office movies of the same title.

Katibayan said talks between his group and persons "who could influence" Poe are still going on, but he did not identify the persons.

"The main goal of their group and our group is the same," Katibayan said. "This is to go against this incompetent government."

Katibayan said it would be to Poe’s advantage to run as De Castro’s vice presidential running mate.

"He (Poe) is a good businessman," Katibayan said. "But he could still learn a lot in six years as vice president."

Katibayan said it’s clear that Poe is just being pressured by politicians and "groups with vested interests" to run for president.

"He (Poe) is a good man, but he is a hesitant candidate," he said. "He is suffering from the pressure of people surrounding him."

However, Katibayan said if Poe continues to decline to run as De Castro’s vice president, they would get Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon.

"Choosing him (Gordon) is part of our Plan B," he said.

Katibayan said Gordon will be a good running mate for De Castro as shown by his performance as administrator of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and as mayor of Olongapo City.

De Castro will soon make a "non-traditional announcement," he added, without elaborating.

The Kabayan for President Movement said it has gathered one million signatures nationwide to urge De Castro to run for president.

Earlier, the group said it would get three million signatures before Jan. 2. — Mike Frialde