Guingona says final goodbye to Arroyo

Philippine Vice-president Teofisto Guingona yesterday formally backed opposition presidential candidate, actor Fernando Poe Jr., saying that he has finally severed his ties with a former ally, incumbent President Gloria Arroyo, who is seeking re-election on May 10.

"FPJ (Poe's initials) has invited me to become his adviser on governance and public policy," Guingona said in a statement which was released from his ancestral home in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental in the southern Philippines, which also reached Poe's media bureau in Manila.

"The nation must change," Guingona said in a bid to make his followers to vote for Poe, whose popularity rating in the south has been second to Arroyo in recent surveys.

In a rally of the Koalisyon of Nationally United Pilipinos (KNP) which was attended by Poe and his running mate Senator Loren Legarda, Guingona said: "I have given him the essence of a programme of action by our civic movement. He adopted the same and based on the said programme, (because of that) I have humbly accepted to become his adviser."

"FPJ asserts that he is his own man. If so, coupled with the right political will, he can chart a meaningful change to rebuild the nation," Guingona told Poe's supporters.

"I am convinced that he is a good and honest man who is fairly gifted with native intelligence. Character is very vital for anyone who would lead a nation. Sincerity and honesty are indispensable (qualities for the presidency).

While experience in the job is a good norm, it can be a plus or a minus. If one's record in office is bad, what good is experience?" were Guingona's words of praise for Poe.

Sources said Guingona called for reforms in the system, a law banning political dynasties, greater autonomy for local officials, protection of the national patrimony, a strong drive against crime and corruption, creation of a fund for Filipino overseas workers, and efforts to make Filipinos proud of themselves.

Guingona's group is Bangon! (Rise!) reform movement. Earlier, Guingona said he would have to resign from Bangon (which supported presidential candidate Raul Roco), if he agreed to join Poe's camp. He quit Arroy's ruling Lakas in October.

Accusing Arroyo of wrongdoing, Guingona said his move would stifle the "cauldron of corruption," a hint that his move would mean the defeat of Arroyo on May 10.

He also said "the economic downturn must be reversed," despite the good economic indicators which Arroyo's administration is known for.

Guingona was also against the government's support for economic liberalisation, despite the unity of the Philippines with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) in calling for the US and other developed countries to open their agricultural market to Asian products.

Guingona and Arroyo were estranged since 2002, over the former's disagreement with the latter's pro-US stance following the resumption of large-scale war exercises between the US and the Philippine Armed Forces in the southern Philippines.

Celebrating Guingona's announcement, Mike Romero, the KNP spokesman, said, "The Vice President is (now) with us. Poe considers him one of his valued advisers."

"This is a big thing that Arroyo should not ignore. Remember that she chose Mr. Guingona to be her Vice President (in 2001)," said Congressman Salvador Escudero, Poe's senatorial candidate.
Poe and Guingona agreed to join forces because "they immediately felt comfortable with each other, and they saw that their programmes and platforms are similar," said a source.

Critics have scored Poe, a high school drop-out, for having no grasp of the responsibility of the presidency. Many people have realised that his refusal to accept calls for a debate has shown that his lack of experience in government was not his only problem.

Recent surveys show that Poe and Arroyo are neck and neck in their battle for the presidency.

In reaction, Ignacio Bunye, the spokesman of Arroyo, said, "We have long known of the disagreements between the president and the vice president."

"There is no personal bitterness between the two and this is just a matter of differences in principle and their personal beliefs," Bunye said, adding that the president has understood the vice president.

Guingona's move could bolster Poe's efforts to create credibility in his campaign for the presidency.

Arroyo appointed Guingona as vice president in early 2001 after she replaced Joseph Estrada, who was ousted by a military-backed street protest that were launched by those who were against the abrupt ending of his impeachment trial in the senate in late December 2000.