GMA won't appear in Lakas' proclamation rally

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro will lead other administration bets in a show of force tomorrow in Antipolo City to kick off his presidential campaign.

However, President Arroyo, the ruling party’s president emeritus, is not likely to appear at the proclamation rally in Ynares Gym as Teodoro’s team is packaging the former defense chief as being his own man.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary-general Reggie Velasco said it would be the first time that all national candidates of the party, including vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano and the senatorial bets, would be together to officially launch their campaign.

“This (proclamation rally) will be a show of force and we will show them how big Lakas-Kampi-CMD is,” Velasco said in a telephone interview.

“This is also the time where we can mobilize local executives where they can now actively campaign for Teodoro, Edu and our senatorial candidates,” he said.

“Before they (local officials) can only introduce them (Teodoro, Manzano, and senatorial candidates) to their constituents but now they can openly tell their constituents to vote for them,” Velasco added.

Teodoro was choosing between Antipolo City and Baguio City as his takeoff point for his proclamation rally but Velasco earlier said that feng shui experts as well as suggestions from friends made him choose Antipolo.

He said show business personalities along with top party officials will attend the proclamation rally to endorse Teodoro.

The rally will start at 4 p.m. that would also include a concert by the popular band Rivermaya and followed by speeches from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates that will culminate with Teodoro’s address.

The concert, which will include other bands, will resume at around 8 p.m.

While Mrs. Arroyo may not attend the proclamation rally, nothing would prevent her from campaigning for Teodoro, Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Prospero Pichay said.

“I think the President wants to distance herself from the campaign so that she will not be too partisan during the remaining months of her administration,” Pichay said in a telephone interview.

He said Mrs. Arroyo was also busy making sure that her major projects are finished before she steps down.

Pichay said that the administration’s political machinery will guarantee the delivery of 25 percent of the votes in favor of Teodoro.

“Our proclamation rally is different because we are the only political party with a platform to present to the people while others are concerned only about criticizing the administration and that’s not a platform,” he said.