MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia sees a plot to undermine, if not snatch, her family’s support for administration presidential candidate Gilberto 'Gibo' Teodoro.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Garcia dismissed as intrigues recent reports that her family had defected from Teodoro to the camp of Senator Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party.

The Cebu governor singled out a public relations man as the source of the intrigues.

“We can very well guess who had employed his or her PR man to feed some bits and snippets of information that are distorted,” she said.

While Garcia has an idea who is behind the supposed plot, she refused to identify the person. “It’s best that this person think we know and hope we don’t know,” she said.

Garcia also does not rule out the possibility that the rumors were meant to trigger a massive defection from the ruling party to another candidate.

“We expect this to be a dramatic political season with eyebrow raising headlines,” she said.

Garcia said she has no reason to doubt the President’s support for Teodoro’s bid, even as she insisted that to her knowledge, the First Gentleman doesn’t meddle in politics.

“I have had no instruction from the President or FG. The President has firmly stated she is supporting Secretary Teodoro. I have no reason to doubt the President. I’ve talked to her. FG doesn’t involve himself in politics,” the governor said.

Garcia said it was the President herself who secured One-Cebu’s support for Teodoro. One-Cebu is the dominant political party in the province of Cebu, which Gwendolyn Garcia heads. 

“We talked about it months ago. Prior to Gibo’s proclamation, the president had asked me whether we had decided who we should choose, and I told her we’re carefully choosing a candidate for One-Cebu.  She reminded me Gibo is the administration candidate, and that weighed heavily because it’s the president talking," she said.

No horse changing

ABS-CBN News earlier reported that the real reason Teodoro quit as Lakas-Kampi-CMD chair was to protest the lack of support from the First Couple. (Read: Gibo quit to protest GMA's lack of support: sources).

The Philippine Daily Inquirer, on the other hand, reported that Teodoro quit as party chairman after being told by Garcia that the First Gentleman had asked them to abandon Teodoro in favor of Villar.

Villar ranks second to Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III in presidential surveys, while Teodoro is a far fourth with single digit ratings. (Read: Aquino opens up lead vs Villar--SWS)

Teodoro has also been hounded by campaign finance problems. (Read: After Gibo, 2 top Lakas-KAMPI execs quit)

The Inquirer report also said Secretary Teodoro was furious when he came to Cebu to confront Garcia about the instruction to switch candidates.

Garcia belied the report. “I didn’t think Gibo was furious at all. He came to Cebu to attend a rally in Argao that was an invitation extended by One-Cebu. No confrontation took place," she said.

Garcia added: “I think the Inquirer [report] was the unkindest cut of all. I’m just disappointed. Inquirer could have walked the extra mile and tried to confirm since it involves me.”

Garcia reiterated her and her party’s support for Teodoro. (Read: Cebu Gov claims One Cebu still for Gibo)

One-Cebu and the Garcia clan are key allies credited with delivering a million votes in Cebu for President Gloria Arroyo that sealed her victory in the 2004 elections.

“We stand firmly committed to the candidacy of Secretary Teodoro. We’re not changing horse midstream. We don’t switch sides in middle of the political battle. We stick it out till the end,” Garcia said.

Governor Garcia didn’t deny though that Villar tried to get her support.

“Prior to our endorsement of Secretary Teodoro, I met with Villar and his wife, and he of course stated he would wish One-Cebu supports him. I answered we’re evaluating things carefully,” she said.

Not her brother's keeper

Garcia also condemned the apparent effort to “drive a wedge” between her and her brother, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Winston Garcia, a close ally of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Both the First Gentleman and Winston Garcia are reportedly secretly backing Villar’s candidacy. “We’re being brought up against each other,” she complained.

While Governor Garcia could vouch for her party and most of her family’s support for Teodoro, she couldn’t speak for her brother Winston Garcia.

“We don’t talk politics and we respect the statement of my brother. We already stated he’s not involving himself. We don’t talk politics. My brother can speak for himself,” she said.

Die is cast

Teodoro himself had also echoed Governor Garcia’s observation. (Read: Don't believe intrigues)

“I deny reports that Gov. Gwen Garcia allegedly told me that the First Gentleman called up members of her family to withdraw their support to me. I have been going to Cebu to attend One-Cebu rallies. The support of the Garcia family and of 1-Cebu has always been solid and unconditional. It has never wavered," he said on Thursday.

For his part, Teodoro maintained that despite the odds, he is staying in the race. He also says he is ignoring all the reports about the First Gentleman’s involvement in the Villar campaign.

”I am not withdrawing. Elections generate rumors, that is expected. I ask that we not listen to them and just focus on the task ahead,” he said.