MANILA, 14 December 2004 — Philippine action film star and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., who refused to concede May’s presidential election, died midnight last night after suffering a stroke and slipping into a coma, his doctors said.
Poe, 65, died at St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was rushed late Saturday after complaining of dizziness while dining and drinking with friends. He later slipped into a coma as doctors tried to use drugs to clear a blood clot in his brain, and his condition gradually worsened Monday, Poe’s doctor said.
“I am very sad to announce that Mr. FPJ passed away at 12:01 a.m. despite aggressive resuscitative measures,” neurologist Abdias Aquino told reporters.
Poe’s wife, actress Susan Roces, issued a statement thanking Filipinos for praying for her husband, referring to him by two of his nicknames.
“We are indebted to your being with him in the face of the challenges in the life of Ronnie. The Filipino people are in FPJ’s heart.”
Poe’s fellow actors, actresses and politicians rushed to the lobby of the hospital as the news of his death spread. Some cried as they went in.
One of Poe’s two daughters, Mary Grace, flew in from Los Angeles, but arrived minutes after her father passed away, TV networks reported.
A political neophyte, the reclusive film star reluctantly agreed to become the opposition’s main challenger to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the May 10 election but lost by 1.1 million votes.
Two months later, Poe asked the Supreme Court to nullify Arroyo’s victory and declare him the country’s leader, accusing her party of committing massive electoral fraud.
Arroyo’s camp denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence the Supreme Court would eventually throw out Poe’s protest, which traditionally takes years to resolve.
Poe, who starred in more than 200 films, was popular among impoverished Filipinos for his portrayals of fast-punching, underdog champions of the poor.
He was a formidable opponent to Arroyo even though his campaign suffered from disorganization and questions over his citizenship, which a court later resolved in his favor.
Hours while doctors were fighting to keep Poe alive, his fans and friends resorted to praying for his recovery. Dozens of people wearing Poe campaign T-shirts gathered outside the hospital as thousands of others held prayer vigils in Roman Catholic churches across the country.
Politicians and film stars rushed to the actor’s bedside, including former first lady Imelda Marcos and former President Corazon Aquino, who left a string of rosary beads purported to have healing powers.
Imee Marcos, an opposition member of Congress and the eldest daughter of Imelda Marcos, said one side of Poe’s face was turning black.
Joseph Estrada, a former movie star who was ousted as the country’s president by street protests in 2001, was allowed out of detention by the anti-graft court to visit his close friend in hospital for about an hour on Sunday evening.
“I know him,” Estrada told reporters. “He will fight this.”
Poe’s running mate in the May 10 election, former Senator Loren Legarda, also came with some prayer paraphernalia.
“We’re here because we want to see our idol,” said Lu Llabe, who traveled to Manila from the southern island of Mindoro. “We want to get first-hand info on his condition.”
President Arroyo also called for prayers for “speedy recovery” of his chief rival whom she called “an icon of our people’s aspirations.”
News of Poe’s sudden illness shocked many Filipinos.
“It’s sad. We don’t want to lose him,” said 50-year-old housewife said Susan Abad, who ekes out a living by selling cigarettes on a Manila sidewalk.
“He’s for the masses, he’s for the poor. He knows how we feel,” she said, adding that she voted for him in the last elections like many poor.
Television showed live shots of actors and politicians from rival parties descending on St. Luke's hospital, some weeping as they walked out.
Rep. Francis Escudero, Poe's spokesman during the May election, said Poe would have been happy at a sight of rival politicians united in prayers for his well-being.
“It was something he dreamed of — political unity,” he said. “It’s just sad that it’s being achieved in this way.” (Additional input from AP & Reuters)
