Action film star Fernando Poe Jr. announced Wednesday he will run for Philippine president in next May's election, in a campaign certain to draw parallels to two other movie idols"Poe, a political newcomer and close friend of Estrada's, said he was giving in to public pressure.

``Since last year, when I went around the Philippines, I saw what the people need and I saw their clamor, and I cannot turn my back,'' Poe told supporters and media at the Manila Hotel. ``Actually, it is not ambition, it is more serving, serving the people and dedicating your life for them.''

Poe, 64, said he does not yet have a political party backing him, but members of Estrada's Party of the Filipino Masses say they will support him.

``He wants unity ... and he appeals to all the Filipino people,'' said Basil de Mesa, vice chairman of Estrada's party organization in nearby Bulacan province. ``He will succeed with the help of the majority of the Filipino people as long as there is trust and respect for the leader.''

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who helped convince Poe to run, said the opposition hopes to have a single candidate to increase its chances of beating President Gloria Macapagal and that Poe has agree to submit himself to the opposition's selection process.

Arroyo, who came to power in January 2001 when Estrada was forced out by massive portests over his alleged corruption, recently reversed a decision not to run next year and will seek her own six-year term.

Late last month, supporters of Poe _ also known as FPJ and ``Da King'' _ presented him with 2 million voters' signatures to convince him to run.

He has so far ranked poorly in opinion polls on possible candidates, which his supporters say is due to his initial reluctance to run. His strength is among the urban poor, the same as Estrada, but businessmen and others worry that his lack of experience could hurt the country.

News of Poe's election bid will likely cause jitters when financial markets reopen Thursday. A possible election win by Poe would stoke fears of a repeat of the failed Estrada presidency.

Poe started appearing in movies in his teens and has never held public office. But he has been under pressure from politicians, supporters and Estrada to seek the presidency.

``In the life of man, there comes a time that he will have to make a very tough decision,'' Poe said. ``And that day has come for me,'' he said, adding that he hopes to unite the divided nation because ``I am not a politician.''

``I am sincere and dedicated and I love my country,'' he said when asked why he will be a good president.

His candidacy is sure to also draw parallels to Schwarzenegger, who became governor of California last week after capitalizing on popularity stemming from a slew of Hollywood action blockbusters. The Austrian-born Schwarzenegger became a US citizen in 1984.

Estrada, in detention on corruption charges, was among those to cheer for Schwarzenegger upon his inauguration, urging him to serve the people by bringing his on-screen heroics to politics.

``The so-called learned people, with all their master's degrees, have no monopoly on leadership,'' Estrada said last week.

Lawyer Julius N. Raboca, secretary general of the Freedom, Peace and Justice (FPJ) Movement, believes Poe is the best man for the presidency because ``he has character and integrity'' and carries ``no political baggage.''

Raboca acknowledged that Poe has no experience in governance.

``There is no school for the presidency ... so nobody can really say he is an expert in running the country,'' he said. ``But I'm sure, in time, he will be able to run the country.''

Also touted as possible opposition candidates are former national police chief Panfilo Lacson, who has accused Arroyo's husband of corruption, and businessman Eduardo Cojuangco, chairman of the country's food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp.

Cojuangco told reporters Tuesday he was ``no longer interested'' in running.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+FM: Taiwan question to head Premier's US visit ( 2003-11-26) +7 Chinese killed in Moscow blaze ( 2003-11-26) +Experts look into sequela of SARS ( 2003-11-25) +US urged to be fair in trade problems ( 2003-11-25) +'Snakehead' sentenced to death ( 2003-11-26)		+Action film star Poe announces candidacy for Philippine president ( 2003-11-26) +Swedish woman gets six new organs in one transplant ( 2003-11-26) +'Matrix,' other geek icons become philosophy-class fodder ( 2003-11-26) +Scientific sleuth sets new target ( 2003-11-26) +Geragos: Don't mess with Jacko ( 2003-11-26)