SHOW OF FORCE IN CEBU: Governors: It is still Gibo for us

CEBU, Philippines - In the very uncertain world of politics, over emphasis is often necessary to drive a point.

This as political leaders from all over the country gathered in Cebu yesterday to once again reiterate their support to the presidential bid of Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro, Jr. of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Present in the meeting were at least 28 incumbent governors and 12 aspirants for the top post of their provinces as well as congressmen from different regions. They were led by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia.

The leaders signed another manifesto of support for Teodoro amidst reports of defections to the camps of either Senator Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party and Senator Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party.

Teodoro attended the meeting held at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City and personally thanked the leaders for their continued support.

This latest show of force by the Teodoro supporters came a day after a group of 168 congressional candidates, including 71 incumbent congressmen, met at the Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati City.

Also present in the meeting was Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who held a closed door meeting with the officials.

Puno is known as one of the tacticians of Teodoro’s campaign.

Gov. Garcia, president of the Governors for Gibo (G4G) or Team Palabra de Honor, said the governors’ meeting in Cebu is a reiteration of Teodoro’s formidable local machinery.

“I do believe that as all of us here, that for as long as we hold on together, our very own individual strengths will be consolidated into one unbeatable force that will bring Gibo Teodoro to victory,” Garcia told her fellow governors during the meeting.

Garcia read the manifesto signed by the governors present during the meeting.

The manifesto read “We, the Provincial Governors, elected-officials, of the Philippines and all members of Team- ‘Palabra de Honor’, reaffirm our unwavering support for Gilbert C. Teodoro Jr. in order to secure his victory and all the candidates both local and national of the party and its allies in the forthcoming May 10 elections.”

It further said “We, remain steadfast in our conviction that Gibo Teodoro is the most qualified among all the Presidential candidates to lead the nation towards greater economic prosperity and social progress in the next 6 years. Thus, we commit to work hard for overwhelming electoral majorities for Gibo Teodoro in our jurisdictions.

“Gibo Teodoro best represents our ideal of competence in public service, intelligence in the service of the people, governance that is not dictated by politics, but politics dictated by good governance; integrity that is beyond question; and most importantly, humility that is inspired by the truth that we are all servants of the people.”

In his response, Teodoro thanked governors, who continue to stand by him despite the continuing misinformation, disinformation and other forms of black propaganda with a few more days remaining before the May 10 elections.

“Once again, one is not a loss of words to describe, the emotion today with the reaffirmation of support for my candidacy the governors assembled here,” Teodoro said.

“Today, once again it clears the air, so that our people will know something, the simple truth, who supports whom, who has defected, who has not, but beside that and more important, this is a reaffirmation of a covenant, a covenant for a genuine local autonomy, community-based development, sustainable development and strong partnership between the national government and local government,” said Teodoro.

“This striking show of force by national and local elective officials along with congressional and mayoralty bets not only here in Cebu but all over the country is the most resounding proof yet that reports and speculations about mass defections supposedly buffeting the Gibo camp only exist in the minds of black propaganda experts who are desperately trying to sabotage Gibo’s surging candidacy for the benefit of their respective presidential wannabes,” said former press secretary Mike Toledo, who is now Teodoro’s spokesman and director of the G1BO 2010 Media Bureau.

The gathering was the third time since the start of the national campaign period last February that majority of the country’s governors have come together to collectively show their full backing to Teodoro.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez, G4G vice president, said that at least three other Mindanao governors are also supporting Teodoro’s presidential bid, but were not at the meeting due to previous commitments.

Maguindanao gubernatorial aspirant Esmael Mangudadatu told reporters that a number of national candidates approached him and asked for his support.

But Mangudadatu said that he is standing by Teodoro’s presidential bid. – with Dorothy Mae E. Acabo and Sheila Marie E. Catacutan, NORSU Interns/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)