(Update) Nograles, Iggy Arroyo back Gibo
33 out of 64 of Lakas-Kampi nat'l execom endorse Gibo
MANILA - A total of 84 congressmen, including House Speaker Prospero Nograles and President Arroyo's brother-in-law, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo on Tuesday morning signed a manifesto supporting Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro's bid to become the ruling party's standard-bearer in the 2010 presidential election.
“Now, therefore, we, the undersigned members of the House of Representatives, wholeheartedly and unequivocally endorse the Secretary of National Defense, the Hon. Gilberto 'Gibo' C. Teodoro Jr. to be the presidential candidate and standard-bearer of the administration for the May 10, 2010 elections,” the group said.
Most of the congressmen are members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. A few party-list representatives were also present.
The endorsement came a day before the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national executive committee meeting, where the ruling party is expected to announce its standard-bearer.
Also among the signatories are key administration allies House deputy speaker Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. (son of former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez), and Antipolo Rep. Roberto Puno (brother of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno).
“We congressmen should have a say in choosing our standard-bearer. We cannot allow the executive committee to make the decision for us. We are the foot soldiers. We have a better sense who should be the next president,” said Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, who organized the 7 a.m. breakfast meeting with Teodoro at the Flapjacks restaurant at the Ayala Technohub in Quezon City.
Nograles, vice chairman of Lakas-Kampi CMD, said the manifesto will have a big weight on the national executive committee meeting on Wednesday. Congressmen make up a majority (33 members) of the 64-member national executive committee.
Teodoro vs Fernando
In an ANC interview, Teodoro thanked the Lakas-Kampi-CMD members who signed the manifeto.
"It's a very strong expression of support for me and it should carry significant weight, but there are still other factors. It ain't over until it's over," he told ABS-CBN News.
The Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition is choosing between Teodoro and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando on who will be the party's official standard-bearer.
Vice-President Noli de Castro, who has also been invited to run under the administration party, has reportedly rejected the Lakas-Kampi's invitation.
Teodoro said he will leave it to the Lakas-Kampi national executive committee to declare the party's standard-bearer on Wednesday.
"Some of the congressmen are members of the NEC and I'll just leave it to them to make the appropriate representations. Being a prospective standard-bearer, I wouldn't want to place a monkey-wrench in whatever selection process has been done already," he said.
He also downplayed Fernando's allegation that he is more qualified to become Lakas-Kampi's standard-bearer because of his experience in government and his length of stay in the party.
"Well, if [Fernando's] being an original Lakas member translates into expressions of support from members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, then why not? At the end of the day, it's who the majority wants," Teodoro said.
"Experience is relative. I've had experience as a legislator, he does not. Both of us have the requisite amount of experience. It's a question of who can inspire the members to bring the party forward both in electing a president and a whole slate and electing local congressmen and our government executives. It [must] be a unifying leadership," he said.
He said that if he is chosen as the party's standard-bearer, he would hit the ground running and campaign on a platform of "reform...and a healing presidency."
He also said the strong showing of his cousin, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, in the surveys is due to the "novelty" of his presidential bid. "Siyempre, the novelty of [Aquino's] coming in is spurring public awareness and attention," he said.
He added that he expects all the candidates to start again from square one after they declare their candidacies at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
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the heart of the matter...
PEOPLE DON'T REALLY SEE THE REAL PICTURE IN PHILIPPINE POLITICAL EXERCISE.
THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS THAT POLITICS IS A CONSTANT AND UNENDING BATTLE AMONG THE COJUANGCO GROUP (NPC), THE LOPEZES, THE MBC AND OTHER BUSINESS CLUBS, THE LOBBYISTS, THE RIGHTISTS, THE LEFTIST, THE CENTRISTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU...ALL OF WHICH ARE DETERMINED TO ADVANCE THEIR OWN SELFISH MOTIVES.
THAT IS WHY I ALWAYS EMPHASIZE IN MY COMMENTS, FOR OUR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE "THE LESSER EVIL" BECAUSE NOBODY...I REPEAT....NOBODY IS A PERFECT CANDIDATE. ALL OF THEM ARE BACKED BY SAID POWER BROKERS. IN SHORT POLITICS IS INTERTWINED WITH BUSINESS.
OUR ONLY CHANCE IS FOR A CANDIDATE WHO WILL HAVE A STRONG POLITICAL WILL AND WILLING TO FORGET HIS DEBT OF GRATITUDE FROM THESE POWER BROKERS THUS ELIMINATING PATRONAGE POLITICS FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. AND, THESE TRAIT OBVIOUSLY, WILL COME FROM A CANDIDATE WHO IS THE LESSER EVIL!
Dirty Politics
I feel sorry in a way about the "sudden" decision of the administration to put Gilbert Teodoro in the presidential race. Yes, I believe that he is indeed a good public servant but would he still be chosen if his cousin Noynoy wasn't running? It is very obvious that some people are using Gilbert for their vested interests. At the expense of cousins Noynoy and Gilbert, people without any concern for real public service are laughing their hearts out for an easy manipulation. Anyway, whoever wins between the cousins, I believe that the chosen one will make a difference for our country that has been suffering from the wrath of the "in disguised" public servants, the consienceless politicians.
HINDI SIGURO!!!
Kawawa naman ang magiging kandidato ng Administrasyon, siguro mga pulitiko lamang at kani-kanilang kamag-anak ang susuporto.
Ang pahayang ni Gibo, itutuloy nya daw ang mga nasimulan ng Arroyo administration.. Nakakatakot!!!
good luck
good luck sa administration. sukang suka ang mga pilipino sa mga panloloko ni arroyo!!! puro lang sya pakita pero yung iba di naman totoo.
kung teodoro ang magiging presidente. wala na mangyayari sa pilipinas. si arroyo pa rin ang mananaig...
Nomination sa PagkaPresidente ng LAKAS-KAMPI Elementary School
Wag kang mawalan ng gana Mr Bayani Fernando, OO magaling ka Man in Action pero di kapa masyado kilala sa buong Pinas at tsaka si Teodoro, tapos Kiss OF DEATH pa kayo sa kay Gloria wala n!! Ok lang kung sabagay kung kayu-kayo lang tiga LAKAS-KAMPI boboto sa halalan 2010 ay tiyak sana kaso, buong Pilipino ang boboto, di lang ordinaryo botohan sa isang Class Section ito, kahit sino sa inyo dalawa kulelat kayo wala kwenta ang Machinery nayan, noon pwede pa yan bilihan ng bota, ngayon Gising na ang TaongBayan..GoodLuck kahit sana 1% boto makakuha kayo..