Joker denies writing anti-Poe Internet article

Sen. Joker Arroyo denied yesterday an Internet article, titled "Interview with Sen. Joker Arroyo," criticizing opposition front-runner Fernando Poe Jr. While the senator owns the opening four paragraphs as his, he denied writing the remaining 20 paragraphs.

Arroyo had earlier said in a statement that in the homestretch, the race has narrowed down between President Arroyo and Poe and the wiser choice would be to vote for Mrs. Arroyo despite criticism against her because Poe was totally unprepared for the presidency. Poe is widely believed to have a big chance of winning the presidency because of his movie star popularity despite his lack of public office experience.

"This spurious Internet article is so crafted with pompous language that is savagely derogatory to Mr. Poe which I cannot and will never use. Nor would I deign criticize the conduct of my fellow senators for supporting FPJ," Arroyo said in a statement.

In the heat of the electoral campaign "decency should prevail," the senator said.