Poe did well in talk show – camp

For the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. gave an award-winning performance Friday night in his one-on-one interview with Max Soliven on The STAR publisher’s new show, "Impact 2004."

Poe "spoke very well," KNP spokesman former Negros Oriental congressman Miguel Romero said in a telephone interview.

Romero said the one-on-one interview will truly show the kind of person Poe is — "frank and sincere."

"The interview showed that when (Poe) says something, he means it," Romero said. "He studies what he says and, more than this, he feels what he says."

Poe made one-sentence responses to Soliven’s questions, hardly gave specifics and preferred to use informal Filipino during the hour-long interview.

Poe responded to criticisms over his refusal to join a presidential debate by saying such debates are divisive.

He also admitted he was not prepared for a debate because "kulang talaga ako sa salita dahil puro ako gawa (I am really at a loss for words because I am all action)."

Romero defended Poe’s inability to delve into specifics regarding his platform of government by saying the KNP standard-bearer has a detailed, 12-page platform.

"The way the Constitution is framed is the executive branch has a Cabinet, whose members are experts in their fields. They are the ones who would spell out and implement the platform," he said. "In the end, it will be (Poe) who will make the final decision."

Meanwhile, House Assistant Minority Leader Allan Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) advised Poe to start being transparent about his platform of government and participate in a presidential debate so voters would be able to scrutinize him.

"Even the media following his campaign trail have complained about Poe’s hiding behind hawi (crowd control) boys," Cayetano said. "Now is the time for the real FPJ (Poe) to come out."

Cayetano said the country needs a leader whose life is transparent and who can lead by example. The campaign period, he added, is the best time for Poe to open himself to voters’ scrutiny, saying "it is not enough that Poe is a good man with good intentions. It is essential that he reveals his character, core beliefs and platform." — With Jose Rodel Clapano