BALER, Aurora, Philippines – Sen. Edgardo Angara endorsed yesterday the candidacy for president of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. if the Cabinet official decides to join the presidential race in 2010.
“Teodoro is a born leader and a man of integrity,” Angara said at the provincial square to cap the weeklong celebration of the 30th founding anniversary of Aurora.
“Our guest of honor today is born to command. This young man can lead the Philippines beginning 2010,” Angara declared as he introduced Teodoro to thousands of his cheering constituents.
The veteran senator also likened Teodoro’s visit here to that of the late President Ramon Magsaysay. He said before running for president, Magsaysay, who was then defense secretary, also visited the province of Aurora (at the time part of Quezon province).
Angara, a political kingpin in the province, was president of the University of the Philippines when Teodoro studied law at the state university.
Teodoro, who admitted that Angara is his mentor, is still reluctant to talk about his political plans, despite the senator’s endorsement.
He said that he is happy to receive the endorsement of Angara, but he would only run for president if chosen by the administration party and if ordered to do so by the President.
“I will only run under the President’s party. She is my boss,” said Teodoro, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the political party headed by his uncle Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.
Teodoro’s spokesman, lawyer Nelson Victorino, confirmed to The STAR that the defense secretary indeed has future presidential plans.
Victorino, however, said that unlike other prospective candidates, Teodoro is not that obsessed with running for president in 2010.
“It (presidential plan) is not a be all and end all for him. There are lots of factors to be considered first, including winnability,” Victorino said.
Angara had earlier addressed Teodoro as the “next President of the Philippines,” adding that the defense chief is competent and very qualified to succeed President Arroyo, citing his being a Bar topnotcher.
“I take that endorsement as an added trust on me as a public servant,” he told reporters. He, however, said that at the moment, politics is still too far away.
Angara’s son, House Deputy Majority Leader Juan Edgardo Angara, said Teodoro is highly qualified for the presidency. – With Manny Galvez