Supporters mark FPJ's 7th death anniversary in Manila

Relatives and supporters of the late actor and presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr (popularly known as FPJ) gathered in Manila Wednesday to mark his seventh death anniversary.

 

Fans and kin gathered at the North Cemetery where Poe is buried, and attended a Mass to mark the occasion, radio dzBB reported.

 

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and Fr. Larry Faraon led the Mass, the report said.

 

Poe died of a stroke in 2004 at the height of his efforts in contesting the results of that year's presidential elections. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo won after garnering 12,905,808 votes over FPJ,  who got 11,782,232 votes. Poe claimed Arroyo robbed him of his victory. The Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), however, dismissed the protest in 2005. FPJ was honored on May 24, 2006 as Philippine National Artist through Philippine Proclamation No. 1065. In this year's commemoration of FPJ's death, his daughter, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board head Grace Poe-Llamanzares, was at the occasion in Manila.

 

Also present was Vice President Jejomar Binay, who ran for vice president alongside Poe's bosom buddy former President Joseph Estrada in the 2010 elections.

 

Other friends and supporters of Poe attended a gathering Tuesday night at the house of Poe supporter Jose "Linggoy" Alcuaz in New Manila, Quezon City. Estrada was at Tuesday night's gathering. — LBG, GMA News