Teodoro on low rating: It's not GMA

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. believes his acceptance rating will improve once the campaign period starts.

At the GMA-7 Presidential Forum “Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot” Sunday night, Teodoro said his lack of public exposure, not his links with President Arroyo, is the main reason why he is not getting a fair survey rating.

“In my view, my low survey rating is due to my lack of public exposure because I was so busy performing and dispensing my duties as former Defense secretary,” he said.

Teodoro said he believes that the electorate is mature enough to ask who are the presidential candidates and examine their platforms of government.

“Once party affiliations and the personalities-based politics are set aside, I believe that my public acceptance will improve,” he said.

Teodoro said he intends to invest more on defense and security to end the decades-old insurgency if elected president.

Teodoro said the country’s defense spending, the lowest compared to other countries, is not enough to protect 90 million Filipinos.

The country has only 120,000 troops, he added.

Teodoro said he also intends to end the various rebellions through peace talks.

“Peace talks are alternatives to attaining peace but there is really a need for a potent force to guard and protect the communities to serve as deterrent against any group out to create trouble or disturbances,” he said.

During the forum, former President Joseph Estrada said the only way to curb corruption is to punish officials convicted of stealing from the national coffers.

“There must be certainty of punishment,” he said.

Estrada said he was innocent of plunder charges for which the Sandiganbayan convicted him, and he was jailed for six years.

President Arroyo later granted Estrada pardon.

However, Estrada said he is proud of his record in government, and of the men and women he recruited to his Cabinet.

“No one among (my Cabinet men) was implicated in any (anomalies),” he said.

He said he was a victim of a conspiracy because he removed government guarantees that favored big businessmen, he added.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III said he had his own achievements as a lawmaker, when asked if he was just capitalizing on the legacies of his parents.

“But this is one thing I can leave behind,” he said.

“I have reached this age, had power along with my parents and we did not use it to advance our own interests and concerns.

“Why would I change this when we are about to retire from this kind of life?”

Aquino said an official should be given the chance to explain when charged with corruption, but reiterated he would not be a corrupt leader.

Even presidents must be given due process and a day in court to prove guilt or innocence, he added.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes, evangelist Eddie Villanueva and environmental advocate Nicanor Perlas offered themselves as alternative candidates to espouse good government.

Meantime, beauty pageant-style, CNN hero Efren Peñaflorida asked presidential aspirants how to become a hero during the GMA 7 presidential forum.

The other presidential aspirants were made to stay inside a soundproof booth while one was being asked a question.

“Let your father name you (Bayani),” Fernando said to the laughter of the audience.

However, he added a person would just have to do his or her job well and obey the law, and he or she could already be considered a hero in his or her own field. – Jaime Laude, Aurea Calica