Teodoro sworn in as Lakas member

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro took his oath yesterday as a member of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, boosting his efforts to secure the presidential nomination of the administration party for the 2010 elections.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Lakas-Kampi-CMD president, swore in Teodoro as party member at the party headquarters in San Juan.

Ermita said Teodoro’s entry into the administration party signals the start of his journey towards greater heights.

Teodoro, 45, said the support shown by party members could not yet be taken as signs of the administration coalition’s endorsement.

Teodoro said he would respect whatever the decision of the party would be in the selection of its presidential candidate, without necessarily conceding to slide down to run for a lower elective position such as vice president or senator.

He assured the party members that he would support whoever would be chosen by the administration as party rules dictate.

Teodoro, a former member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) headed by his uncle San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, said that he does not intend to run as an independent candidate if he fails to get the Lakas-Kampi-CMD nomination, which could affect his credibility among his partymates.

Presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio said the oath taking of Teodoro and his wife Tarlac Rep. Monica Prieto-Teodoro is the administration coalition’s first major activity since the merger of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD was made last June.

“I commit myself to the centrist humanist ideology of the party. Rest assured that I will remain steadfast in adhering to party principles,” Teodoro said.

“I will fight for and support the victory of Lakas-Kampi,” he said amid the applause from party members that include governors, mayors, congressmen, Cabinet members and other party leaders.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who had earlier announced his intention to run for vice president, said he is happy with Teodoro’s entry into the party.

Teodoro welcomed the idea of Puno as his running mate in the 2010 elections, saying he has closely worked with him and they will have no trouble working together in another capacity if they both win.

In his speech after the oath taking, Teodoro said that more than winning the elections he joined the party because of its reform agenda for the country.

“More than winning, this party is a movement for change, more benefits for the poor, movement for peace and security,” he said.

Aside from Teodoro, the other presidential aspirants for the 2010 polls include Vice President Noli de Castro (Independent), former President Joseph Estrada (Partido ng Masang Pilipino), Senators Manny Villar (Nacionalista Party), Mar Roxas (Liberal Party), Loren Legarda (NPC), Francis Escudero (NPC), Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando (Lakas), and Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio (Independent).

Local officials support Teodoro

Teodoro proceeded to Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan after the oath taking ceremonies and met supporters from various non-government organizations, local government leaders and other political allies.

The defense secretary is a former Tarlac congressman and enjoys the support of many congressmen from Lakas-Kampi-CMD and other political parties.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, said Teodoro is a welcome addition to Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“He is a new face in the party. He brings with him a lot of charisma and integrity. Expectations will be high but I think he can capably live up to these,” Abalos said.

“He (Teodoro) is young, competent and very well-educated. Most of all, he has integrity,” said Sarangani Gov. Rene Miguel Dominguez, who flew in from Mindanao to witness the event.

“We can’t say anything negative about him. Bar topnotcher, capable and knowledgeable about running the government, very competent,” said Tarlac City Mayor Genaro Mendoza who brought his entire city council to show their support for Teodoro.

“In the coming months, he (Teodoro) could gain more supporters as well as admirers as he seeks to become the standard-bearer of Lakas Kampi,” said North Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan.

Among the governors who attended the oath taking rites were Teng Mangudadatu (Sultan Kudarat), Eustaquio Bersamin (Abra), Aurora Cerilles (Zamboanga del Sur), Vicente Pimentel (Surigao del Sur), Michael Keon (Ilocos Norte) and ex-Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee.

Speaker Prospero Nograles led the congressmen who support Teodoro that included Reps. Victor Ortega (La Union), Dan Fernandez (Laguna), Amelita Villarosa (Mindoro Occidental), Jose “Apeng” Yap (Tarlac) and Edwin Uy (Isabela).

Among the city mayors that witnessed the oath taking were Mel Sarmiento (Calbayog), Constantino Jaraula (Cagayan de Oro), Amelita Navarro (Santiago City) and Roger Fariñas (Laoag).

Former Justice secretary and current Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez and Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan also attended the oath taking rites.

Bayani makes a wish

MMDA chairman Fernando, who turned 63 yesterday, said his birthday wish is to spend his next birthday as president in Malacañang Palace.

“Of course, to spend my next birthday at Malacañang. You know, a leader must be decisive. No dilly-dally,” Fernando said in an interview over radio dzRH.

Fernando said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD leaders should now close the nomination for the standard-bearer in the 2010 presidential elections.

He said it is too late for Defense Secretary Teodoro and Vice President De Castro to join Lakas for purposes of getting the party’s nomination.

“As I have said in the past, I move that the nomination be closed. Whether the survey is right or wrong, he (Teodoro) has lower rating than me,” Fernando said.

Fernando said party members are required to be loyal to their party.

He said the Lakas party is not a party for convenience.

“If my membership for long will be set aside by my party mates, that will not be good,” Fernando said.

“I will not bolt from Lakas. I will continue my candidacy. Party demands loyalty from members, but it demands also loyalty from the party to its members,” he added.

Fernando said he was invited to the oath taking of Teodoro as Lakas-Kampi-CMD member, but he did not attend.

NPC prepares for polls

NPC Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela’s 4th District said Teodoro’s decision to leave the party was “a long time coming” especially since he expressed interest in being drafted as the administration party’s presidential standard-bearer.

Aggabao said that NPC remains to be the second largest political party next to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and their party would definitely field a complete slate in next year’s elections.

“I can say this with assurance: the NPC presidential candidate next year will either be Chiz (Sen. Francis Escudero) or (Sen.) Loren (Legarda),” said Aggabao.

He said: “So far, it might be an Escudero-Legarda tandem or the other way around. Anything can happen. Anyway, both are strong presidential timber.”

Aggabao said that the 2010 election is the best chance for the NPC to win the presidency since the party fielded Danding Cojuangco in the 1992 presidential elections.

The NPC’s leading aspirants for senator include Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio of South Cotabato, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra, Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, and Susan Roces, widow of the late Fernando Poe Jr. With Jose Rodel Clapano, Charlie Lagasca