Even guerrillas back `John Wayne' of the Philippines

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AFP , MANILA
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004,Page 5

Philippine movie star presidential candidate Fernando Poe is so popular on the stump that even communist guerrillas are attending his campaign rallies, his backers claimed yesterday.

A statement from the Poe camp, said "scores" of New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas had been monitored attending a huge campaign rally held by the popular actor in the southern town of Claveria several days ago.

"We were worried when we heard that NPA rebel bands were deploying in the hills just outside of Claveria. But we eventually found out that they came out for FPJ," said retired army general Jaime Echeverria, using Poe's initials.

Poe is neck and neck with incumbent President Gloria Arroyo in the latest opinion polls less than two months before the May 10 elections.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/03/17/2003106554