Defense chief to step down in two weeks

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. bade goodbye yesterday to employees of the Department of National Defense (DND) to pursue his presidencial bid in the May 2010 elections.

“I have good working relationship with everyone of you and I will treasure this my entire life,” Teodoro told defense employees in a speech during the launching of DND’s Proper Citizen’s Charter held at the defense building lobby yesterday morning.

The DND’s Proper Citizen’s Charter is in line with Republic Act 9485, a law that seeks “to improve efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape, preventing graft and corruption and providing penalties thereof.”

Teodoro said he will be leaving his post in two or three weeks to pursue his political plans as the presidential standard-bearer of the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

He said he could have resigned earlier to concentrate on politics but the three successive typhoons that hit the country prevented him from doing so.

This early, however, statements of support are pouring in from different camps even as the young DND chief has yet to file his candidacy.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines, which is represented by the provincial governors all over the country, last week expressed preference for Teodoro as the country’s next president.

Sorsogon Gov. Sally Lee said she doesn’t know Teodoro personally but the secretary has sent several assistance and tangible programs to her province through the DND.

“I don’t know him from Adam, but he had sent us several aids, including farm-to-market road and rubber boats after we sent him a letter of request and informed him how typhoons ‘Milenyo’ and ‘Reming’ damaged the province in 2007,” said Lee.

The governor said she only met Teodoro recently when he and several military officials graced the welcome ceremony for the Balikatan joint military exercises.

“He (Teodoro) doesn’t have any arrogance and he listens. One time he went to Magallanes (a town in Sorsogon) after massive flooding to extend assistance, he made it without fanfare, I admired him even more,” Lee said.

The LPP has endorsed the tandem of Teodoro and Sen. Loren Legarda for president and vice president, respectively.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez also proposed a coalition of three established political parties – Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), which he described as a “marriage made in heaven.”

Despite the withdrawal of Local Government and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as vice presidential candidate, the administration party said Teodoro is not running out of prospective running mates.

Presidential Adviser on Political Affair Gabriel Claudio, who is also secretary-general of the ruling party, said apart from Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, there are other prospective personalities who could be tapped to be the administration’s vice presidential bet.

“I’d be the first to dispute that kind of observation that Gibo is lacking in materials for a running mate,” Claudio said in a telephone interview.

There were reports that Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, Sen. Bong Revilla, Sen. Loren Legarda and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano were among those being eyed to be Teodoro’s running mate.

The effort to woo Legarda was accompanied by moves of some Lakas-Kampi-CMD leaders to push for a coalition with the NPC, to which the senator belongs.

Teodoro and Sen. Manny Villar are among the presidential aspirants who have not yet announced their running mates.

There were reports, however, that Villar was able to convince Legarda to join him.

Claudio said there are three more male political personalities being eyed for possible pairing with Teodoro. He however refused to elaborate.

“There are many prospects who want to run in tandem with Gibo,” he said in a radio interview, adding that Teodoro’s opinion would carry much weight in the selection.

He, however, admitted that there were talks between Teodoro and Garcia on a possible tandem but clarified that it was not an official move of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“That (Teodoro-Garcia tandem) is something that is being talked about and endorsed by certain quarters within the party… that’s a good combination but there’s nothing official about that,” he told a radio interview.

Claudio said that the choice of Garcia, if it would materialize, would be a boost to the candidacy of Teodoro, who is from Luzon.

Former senator and socioeconomic planning secretary Ralph Recto, who is running for the Senate, is open to the idea of a Teodoro-Garcia tandem.

“She’s (Garcia) a natural choice, especially that Cebu is an administration bailiwick,” Recto said.

Claudio said it is up to Legarda to decide on her political plans.

No turning back

for Bayani

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando yesterday said he would still pursue his presidential bid in next year’s polls even if it means running as an independent. – With Mike Frialde, Iris Gonzales, Cecille Suerte Felipe