Teodoro gets support of Lakas governors

MANILA, Philippines - Most of the country’s provincial governors have endorsed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. as the administration’s standard-bearer in the May 2010 elections.

The League of Governors gave its endorsement of Teodoro’s candidacy at the end of its meeting yesterday at the Discovery Suites in Pasig City.

Teodoro spoke during the meeting about the different provinces’ pressing concerns and issues.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, league secretary-general, presided over the meeting yesterday in the absence of president Gov. Leo Ocampos of Misamis Oriental.

After the open forum that followed the remarks of the defense secretary, Gov. Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani stood up to introduce and sponsor a resolution endorsing the candidacy of Teodoro.

When Evardone put the matter to a vote, all the 45 governors present out of 80 members of the league voted to adopt the resolution.

“There was no objection, except for one abstention from Gov. Emilio Macias of Negros Oriental,” Evardone said.

Macias belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Macias told his fellow governors that he is bound by the rules of his party which is also fielding its own presidential candidate for next year’s elections.

Teodoro profusely thanked the governors for their endorsement, which he said was unexpected but most welcome.

Teodoro, who recently took his oath as a member of the newly merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD, urged the governors to expedite their process of endorsement. “Baka maiwanan tayo sa pansitan (Because we might be left behind by all others),” Teodoro quipped.

Members of the league are from different political parties but more than half of them belong to the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

The governors met yesterday after going as a group to the wake of Iglesia ni Cristo leader Eraño Manalo in Quezon City.

Since the league’s decision to endorse the candidacy of Teodoro was not on the agenda of the meeting, Evardone said they have no formal written resolution yet.

After their meeting, the governors proceeded to Malacañang Palace upon the invitation of President Arroyo.

Reached by The STAR for comment, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, expressed elation at the unscheduled endorsement especially since the merged party is set to meet later this month to finalize their selection process for their standard-bearer.

“This is a very positive development and now the Lakas-Kampi-CMD can definitely flex its muscles in preparation for the May 2010 presidential elections,” Ermita said.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, party secretary-general, likewise welcomed the league’s endorsement of Teodoro.

“Considering it’s an official position taken by the league, this will be given significant weight in the party’s selection process,” Claudio pointed out.

Claudio disclosed the executive committee of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD will be meeting on Sept. 15 to finalize the rules of the selection process for its standard-bearer and senatorial lineup.

“This (endorsement of Teodoro) will definitely be factored in,” Claudio said.   

Claudio clarified the Lakas-Kampi-CMD will proceed with its selection process despite former House speaker Jose de Venecia’s questioning the legality of the party merger with the Commission on Elections.

“We’re confident of the legality and political justifications behind the merger,” he added.

Teodoro leaves for US

Teodoro is leaving for Washington on Monday for high-level security talks at the Pentagon with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Teodoro’s five-day visit to the US is considered very crucial to the government’s ongoing efforts to defeat the Abu Sayyaf extremists and the regional Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

The two defense chiefs will meet on Sept. 9 at the Pentagon to tackle wide-ranging local and regional security issues posed by the two terror groups.

Gates made a brief visit to Manila last June to affirm the US and Philippine commitments to international security.

Gates said the US would continue to support the Philippine government in its effort to defeat the Abu Sayyaf and the JI, which are threatening peace in the region.

Some 600 US Special Forces are scattered around Mindanao to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its offensive against the Abu Sayyaf.

Aside from Gates, Teodoro will have separate meetings with Director of National Intelligence Dennis Cutler Blair and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Edward Panetta.

Panetta made an unannounced visit to Manila in July, highlighting the tight link between the military and intelligence efforts of the two countries.

Teodoro will also meet with President Obama’s National Security Adviser Jim Jones.

Upon his arrival in Washington, Teodoro will call on Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa for consultations on further boosting Philippine-US security cooperation.

On Sept. 8, Teodoro will call on senior US Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and California Rep. Bob Filner to express the country’s gratitude to two of the major sponsors of the US Stimulus Bill that provides for a $198-million lump sum package for Filipino veterans of World War II.

Teodoro will also meet with US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to follow up the status of benefits, processing and additional outlay for the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).