Action film star announces candidacy for president

SHOTLIST

November 26, 2003
1. Actor Fernando Poe Jr (in white) with wife, actress Susan Roces (in blue), before announcement
2. Pan of press conference
3. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Fernando Poe Jr., actor:
"I am Fernando Poe Jr., who will join in the presidential race of our country."
4. Pan from media to Poe
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Fernando Poe Jr., actor:
"Well, I am sincere. I am dedicated and I love my country."
6. Cameramen
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Fernando Poe Jr., actor:
"When I went around the Philippines, I saw what the people needed and I saw their clamour and I cannot turn my back. Actually, it is not an ambition, it's more of serving the people and dedicating your life for them."

FILE
January 18, 1998
8. Fernando Poe Jr. with Joseph Estrada when Estrada announced his candidacy for presidency

November 26, 2003
9. Crowd outside where Poe made announcement
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Armida Siguion Reyna, actress, Poe supporter:
"I am going to support him all the way, I am going to campaign for him because I think he is an honest person. We need somebody like that to become president. He is a humanist, he is not beholden to anyone as I quote from him and I think it will be good for the country."
11. Poe supporters holding banner with "Save Philippines" sign

STORYLINE

Action film star Fernando Poe Jr, a close friend of ousted leader Joseph Estrada, on Wednesday officially announced his candidacy for Philippine president in next May's election.

A political newcomer, the highly popular actor said he was giving in to public pressure.

Poe, 64, told supporters and media at a Manila Hotel: "When I went around the Philippines, I saw what the people needed and I saw their clamour and I cannot turn my back."

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

Late last month, supporters of Poe - also known as FPJ and "Da King" - presented him with two (m) 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.
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