‘Da King’ pulling strings to reverse Iglesia choice

Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. is pulling strings in a last-ditch attempt to regain his edge in the elections, even as signs indicate that the KNP would support President Arroyo’s call for a government of national unity.

The efforts include pressuring independent presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson into withdrawing his candidacy and have the bloc-voting Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) sect take back its endorsement of Mrs. Arroyo.

Malacañang, meanwhile, is looking forward to seeing the President made "invincible" by the INC endorsement and the withdrawal of one opposition candidate from the presidential race.

Presidential campaign spokesman Michael Defensor declined to speculate on who the INC will finally endorse, but added that the administration Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) is hoping for and working to gain the INC’s support.

If either Lacson or Poe bows out of the presidential derby, Defensor said, the INC endorsement "would make the President’s standing invincible."

KNP sources said former President Joseph Estrada, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) founder and chairman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco and several ranking ministers of the INC will try to convince INC executive minister Eraño Manalo to reverse his edict and endorse Poe instead.

Estrada was quoted as saying Saturday he was informed that the INC has endorsed Mrs. Arroyo, her running mate Sen. Noli de Castro, six K-4 senatorial candidates and six KNP senatorial bets.

"There is no official word yet," Defensor said. "It’s a sensitive matter. We don’t go beyond or work outside of the process."

To "encourage" the INC to support Poe, the KNP official said Lacson is set to announce that he is withdrawing from the presidential race to enable the opposition to field only one candidate, a condition of the INC that both the camps of Poe and Lacson failed to meet.

The source said Lacson’s possible withdrawal from the presidential derby would greatly increase, if not guarantee, Poe’s chances of securing the much-coveted INC endorsement.

"It’s a touch-and-go situation and we’re still getting mixed signals (from the INC)," the KNP source said. "But we think we have a chance to succeed in exerting pressure with Ka Erdie (Manalo)."

KNP vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda, for her part, declined to issue any statement on the matter, saying she was suffering from migraine.

‘Danding Not Involved’

Cojuangco’s nephew, Tarlac Rep. Gilberto Teodoro (NPC), however, strongly denied his uncle would make such moves, saying Cojuangco has not been and will not be involved in the political scene due to his sensitive position as chairman of the San Miguel Corp., Southeast Asia’s largest food and beverage conglomerate.

"He’s not involved," Teodoro said of Cojuangco. "He will just vote.

KNP senatorial bet and Estrada’s son, Jinggoy Estrada, has denied any knowledge about his father’s alleged efforts to talk with the INC.

"I don’t know," Jinggoy said. "What we’ll do is to double, even triple, our campaign efforts."

Sources said Poe and Lacson met again Saturday night at an undisclosed place in Metro Manila and were set to meet again last night.

During their meeting, Lacson appeared to have "significantly softened up" and "realized he must withdraw," the source said.

On the matter of Lacson’s possible withdrawal from the presidential race, Legarda said, "we are optimistic that there will be unity. At this stage, until May 10, the unification effort is still significant."

Poe’s spokesman, Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero, confirmed the meeting but refused to elaborate, saying the meetings between both candidates happen "more often nowadays."

Escudero also refused to comment on the reported moves by the KNP to gain the INC endorsement for Poe.

The source said even INC ministers supportive of Poe will try to exert pressure on Manalo, as the flock is apparently overwhelmingly for the KNP standard-bearer.

The source said the INC endorsement does not appear to be final, since Mrs. Arroyo has yet to be formally invited and informed by the INC.

Poe’s personal campaign manager, Sen. Vicente Sotto III, also said there are no indications that the INC endorsement of the President is final, but he added that "we will work hard for our victory, with or without (the INC) endorsement."

KNP executive committee member Lito Anzures said they are not exactly worried over the INC endorsement, but admitted that the INC support for Mrs. Arroyo "will reduce our lead over (the President)."

Anzures said the KNP executive committee met Saturday, but said the INC endorsement of Mrs. Arroyo "was not even a major portion of the agenda."

"Our orders now are to intensify tour campaign," Anzures said. "Life goes on. We just have to consolidate."

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said at a press conference yesterday that Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Poe’s chief for "ballot security" and KNP chairman Sen. Edgardo Angara, have agreed to the President’s proposed government of national unity.

However, De Venecia said the talks with Angara and Honasan are still in the informal stage, adding that Honasan refused to ask him for anything in return — even the dropping of rebellion charges against him.

De Venecia also said the INC endorsement, which he hopes will be confirmed, placed Mrs. Arroyo in a leading position "that can no longer be equaled or excelled."

In Bacolod City, Bangon Pilipinas Movement (BPM) standard-bearer Eddie Villanueva has urged religious leaders to educate their members in how to vote wisely instead of dictating for whom to vote come election day.

"I respect the decision of the religious leaders in endorsing a candidate, provided that they educate the members of their church or organization on how to vote for candidates based on competence, integrity, track record and position on issues confronting the country," Villanueva said.

He had earlier urged religious groups against instituting bloc voting among its members.

"The right of suffrage is too precious," Villanueva said. "My dream is for the Filipino people to mature, be educated and be able to vote wisely — not only for the good of the country, but for the future of the next generation." — With Marvin Sy, Antonieta Lopez