TISA KIDS 'HATE DRUGS, WANT FPJ FOR PRESIDENT'

FOR most children in Barangay Tisa, drug addiction is one of the
biggest problems their community is facing.

And if given the chance to vote, most of them would also choose action
star Fernando Poe Jr. to be the next president.

In yesterday's First Children's Summit held at the Barangay Tisa II
Elementary School, more than 300 children aged 10 to 14 named drug
addiction as one of the major issues that ought to be addressed by
their barangay officials.

Other issues that concerned them were garbage collection, drunkards
roaming the streets, floods, rough roads, fraternity-related violence
and illegal gambling.

Some also mentioned out-of-school youths, theft of gamecocks and
clothes, vandalism, child abuse, broken families and unlighted posts.

Most of the participants interviewed by Sun.Star would give their vote
to Poe for different reasons.

Choices

For 14-year-old Ariel, Poe proved to the public that he was a good man
by acting as a hero in his movies.

He also said the country does not need an expert to run the country
because anyone who has the dedication can learn how to do it.

Joanna, 11, preferred Sen. Panfilo Lacson to be the next president
because she was sure he would be effective in the fight against crime.

"I know because my mother saw him," Joanna said in Cebuano, adding her
mother met Lacson at the wake of slain policeman John Campos.

But if the opposition decides to pick Poe as their standard bearer,
Joanna said she would choose him. "I don't know the others," she said.

Suzanne, 11, agreed with Ariel, that Poe is a good
man.

She did not believe in the other presidentiables.

Suzanne said aspirant Raul Roco could not be trusted because he was
booted out of his former post at the Department of Education.

However, 13-year-old Jennifer wants incumbent President Arroyo to win
the elections because she has experience.

"What does FPJ know when he hasn't even finished school? " she
said.

Jennifer explained that dedication is not enough to run a country
because there are too many complicated problems. So, an uneducated
president would not know what to do.

Most children, though, still had faith in their barangay officials and
local police force. Asked what should be done to eliminate the drug
problem in their barangay, many suggested reporting the drug
personalities to their barangay chief or the police.

"We need more tanods. In our sitio, the tanods do not roam around
every night. They should be (visible) to discourage the drug pushers,"
Jennifer said.

Suzanne added that people were afraid to report the pushers because
they threatened residents.