Susan Roces Throws a Punch                                                                                       

ACTRESS Susan Roces, wife of actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., Saturday threw a fit during a campaign sortie in Roxas City and punched a city councilor, who was with her in the sortie.

Lawyer Joseph Arrojado, regional chair of the pro-Poe Filipinos for Progress Justice and Truth Movement (FPJTM), quoted Allan Celino, Roxas City councilor who is running for vice mayor under the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), as saying he was punched in the stomach by Roces.

In a phone interview, Celino confirmed the incident.

But Mike Romero, spokesperson of the KNP, said no such thing happened.

"Our sources in Iloilo completely deny it," said Romero. "It's politics again. They are using all kinds of intrigues against FPJ (Poe), Loren (Legarda) and now, Susan (Roces)."

Celino said Roces threw the punch during a caravan in Roxas City Saturday afternoon.

Arrojado quoted Celino as saying he was trying to catch the attention of Roces by touching the actress in the shoulder and back to tell her to face the crowd that had gathered to watch the KNP caravan pass by.

Celino told Arrojado that Roces was apparently piqued by what he did and threw the punch at Celino's stomach.

Roces, Celino and other Poe campaign supporters were on top of a six-wheel flatbed truck which was part of a 25-vehicle convoy that was winding its way through Roxas City.

The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. while the truck was near the Roxas City public market.

Celino, according to Arrojado, turned apologetic after Roces punched him.

In a radio interview in Roxas City, Celino apologized in public to Roces, saying the actress may have been just too tired.

Celino said it was not his intention to offend Roces.

After the punch-throwing incident, Roces and party proceeded to the towns of Sigma and Mambusao in Capiz province to continue with the campaign.

Roces was expected in Iloilo Saturday night.

Arrojado said Roces apparently did not know that Celino was a local candidate of the KNP.

Arrojado said despite the punching, he and Celino would continue to support Poe.