MANILA - As chief of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on Monday visited several towns ravaged by typhoons in Bataan and Zambales.

When he was introduced to the crowd by Gov. Enrique Garcia of Bataan, he was given another title.

“The only one to my mind na talagang kayang-kayang maging presidente ay walang iba kundi itong aming pipiliing standard-bearer ng Lakas-Kampi, Secretary Gibo Teodoro. Huwag ninyong kakalimutan iyan,” announced Garcia.

Garcia, who is also a member of the ruling party, believes Teodoro's ratings will go up once he is formally declared as the ruling party's
standard-bearer.

“Kapag ka opisyal na kandidato na namin si Secretary Gibo Teodoro, sho-shoot-up din, abangan niyo,” said Garcia.

Despite a survey result that shows his cousin, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, leading the presidential race, Teodoro said he remains confident of his party's chances in the coming presidential elections.

“Si Noynoy, miyembro ho ng Liberal Party. Kami naman ho ay Lakas-Kampi CMD. Magkakaroon kami ng selection process at pakay naman namin pagandahin ang rating kung sinong mapipiing kandidato,” said Teodoro.

In case Lakas-Kampi CMD would choose Teodoro as its standard-bearer, this would not be the first time that the Teodoro family will go against the Aquino family.

Though blood relatives, with Teodoro's mother Mercedes Cojuangco being first cousins with former President Corazon Aquino, mother of Noynoy, both families have always been on different sides of the political fence since the 1960's.

During the time of then strongman Ferdinand Marcos, Teodoro's father served as Social Security System administrator while Noynoy’s father, the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was a leading opposition leader.

Even their uncles, San Miguel Corp. Chairman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, and Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, were bitter political rivals in Tarlac.

The two were also schooled in rival schools, Teodoro being a college graduate of De La Salle University, while Noynoy graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University.

The biggest difference between the two, however, is how they view the Arroyo administration.

“Ang policy ko ay ituloy ang mga programa ng administrasyon at ang pinakamalaking policy ko ay, oras na manalo ako, hihikayatin ko ang Konggreso mag-Charter change tayo – sa Con-con (Constitutional convention),” said Teodoro.

Despite their political differences, Teodoro assured that he will remain friends with his cousin, Noynoy, and that his relationship with him would lead to a better debate on issues in the coming elections.