It's Teodoro for Lakas in 2010

MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro got the nod of administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD to become its standard-bearer in the May 2010 presidential elections.

The proclamation was made by Lakas-Kampi secretary general Gabriel Claudio after an hourlong deliberation among members of the party's national executive committee, who reportedly voted 44-5 in favor of Teodoro.

However, Lakas stalwart and Iloilo Representative Arthur Defensor said the selection of Teodoro was just an initial consensus among members of the national executive committee. Another selection process might be held, he added.

Claudio said the committee also expressed its preference for Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to become Teodoro's running mate.

Teodoro won over Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando, who said he might still pursue his presidential bid even without the party's endorsement.

Political observers said Fernando might instead run under the Lakas-CMD wing of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., who bolted out from the merged Lakas-Kampi party.

Around 90 Lakas-Kampi lawmakers and local executives have earlier expressed support for Teodoro to be the party's standard-bearer.

Teodoro, 45, a Harvard-trained lawyer and former congressman, will now run against his cousin, opposition Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Aquino announced last week that he was seeking the presidency as the Liberal Party candidate to continue the legacy of his mother, Corazon Aquino, who became a democracy icon in the Philippines for leading the revolt that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The massive outpouring of sympathy for Aquino after her death from colon cancer last month prompted supporters of her son — a three-term congressman and economist by training — to urge him to run for president.

President Arroyo is scheduled to step down after serving more than nine years in June 2010. She is not allowed to seek re-election.

Other major aspirants for next year's presidential race include Sen. Manny Villar and deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Teodoro promised to re-examine the constitution and to push for structural reforms to end what he called "a dysfunctional political structure."

The defense chief said Muslim and communist rebels must be disarmed through a variety of techniques.

"We must go against terrorists, have the capacity to go against them efficiently and to deter them," he said.

He also said the law must be enforced against corrupt government officials, but at the same time salaries of government workers must be raised to discourage bribe-taking. -- With AP