Congressmen rally around Gibo

MANILA, Philippines - Some 85 members of the House of Representatives endorsed the presidential candidacy of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. yesterday.

The lawmakers signed a manifesto of endorsement on the eve of the meeting of the Lakas-Kampi executive committee, which is expected to choose its standard-bearer for next year’s elections.

The signatories, save for five or six party-list representatives, are all members of the ruling party. They affixed their signature to the manifesto during a breakfast meeting hosted by Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, to which Teodoro was invited.

The defense chief, who served as Tarlac congressman before joining President Arroyo’s Cabinet, thanked his former House colleagues for supporting his projected candidacy.

“This means that I have a good chance (of being chosen as standard-bearer) in tomorrow’s meeting of the executive committee,” he told reporters.

Teodoro said that if chosen, he would work doubly hard to strengthen the organizational structure of the party.

“I am humbled (by) the overwhelming support of my former colleagues in Congress and governors and local government executives,” Teodoro said in an earlier radio interview.

In their manifesto, the House members said Teodoro is an “exceptional leader who possesses great administrative and political skills, a man gifted with a brilliant mind, youthful dynamism, uncommon honesty and integrity, and imbued with admirable humility.”

“We fully believe that he is the leader who can most effectively carry out the vision, mission and ideology of the party, who can best lead the nation in the coming years, who can reform and transform Philippine society, and who can bring about lasting peace, justice and meaningful progress for our nation,” they said.

Speaker Prospero Nograles, who signed the manifesto, said the expression of support of Teodoro’s former colleagues would greatly influence the decision of the Lakas-Kampi executive committee in its meeting today.

He said if Vice President Noli de Castro failed to decide up to last night to join the ruling party’s selection process, the committee’s choice of standard-bearer would be limited to Teodoro and Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

He chided De Castro for hesitating to join the ruling party.

“I don’t think you can ever land a job unless you fill up an application form,” he said.

He lamented that while Lakas-Kampi wanted him to make a decision as soon as possible, it seemed the vice president was treating the matter “with less urgency.”

Lakas-Kampi executive director Ray Roquero said with the expression of support for Teodoro’s candidacy by 85 House members, the defense chief was already assured of the endorsement of the ruling party’s executive committee.

“He has now won the support of 53 out of the 64 members of the committee – 33 congressmen and 20 governors,” he said.

A total of 49 governors led by Gov. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar earlier decided to endorse Teodoro’s candidacy.

But a ranking member of the Lakas party yesterday said some of the 85 congressmen were taken by surprise by the manifesto and not all are fully supportive of Teodoro.

The official who requested anonymity said he and a partymate congressman who also doesn’t want to be identified were present in the breakfast meeting and were surprised to see a manifesto of support for Teodoro being circulated during the gathering.

“The congressmen were surprised when they were asked to sign the manifesto because they thought that it was only a breakfast meeting,” the source said.

The congressman whispered to him that he would not have attended the meeting if he knew that they would be made to sign a manifesto of support for Teodoro since Lakas has yet to decide on who to field as their standard-bearer.

They said the manifesto was divisive.

Speaker Nograles said they are not worried about the defense chief’s low survey rating.

“It’s still eight months to go before the elections, and I’m sure his rating will improve. As the Bible says, he who is last shall be first,” he said.

Responding to questions, Teodoro said he would have to defend Mrs. Arroyo from criticisms during the election campaign if he is asked about her alleged misdeeds. – With Paolo Romero, Jaime Laude and Jose Rodel Clapano