Teodoro starts campaign in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Administration presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro yesterday started his Mindanao campaign in Davao City, where local officials said he is expected to get 12 million votes, or half of the expected 24 million votes from the South.  

Administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD is also optimistic that its six senatorial candidates would win because of the administration’s strong political machinery.

Teodoro first met with farmer-leaders at the El Gato Café in Davao, and then flew to Tamayong Calinan to meet with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name at the Prayer Mountain, the religious retreat of one of the country’s biggest religious groups.

Quiboloy is President Arroyo’s newest spiritual adviser. 

After his meeting with Quiboloy, he proceeded to the University of Mindanao where he was expected to meet with students.

Teodoro said his “Sulong Pilipinas” (Forward Philippines) platform of governance centers on educational reforms, food security, universal healthcare, infrastructure, environmental protection, and a non-compromising stand against crime and terrorism.

Platform of governance

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez and Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo said that Teodoro’s platform of governance, especially his promise of support for Mindanao, has endeared him to the people of Mindanao.

“What differentiates Teodoro from the rest of the presidential candidates is that he alone has a concrete program to move the country forward – and to greater heights – in the post-Arroyo administration,” Dominguez, Lakas president, said.

They said Teodoro is likely to secure 45 to 50 percent of the 24-million voters in Mindanao. 

“On top of this distinction that makes Gibo the most qualified among this year’s batch of presidential contenders, the Mindanao vote is virtually in the bag because he has endeared himself to us Mindanaoans as he has always been there for us in times of calamities and conflicts,” Dominguez said.

“We will exert all efforts to ensure Gibo’s victory in the South as we believe that he has all the qualifications and the traits to lead the country to progress into the next decade,” Lagdameo said. “He has shown a genuine concern for lasting peace and sustained development in Mindanao.”

Teodoro is flying to Kidapawan City today to dialogue with sectoral leaders and keynote the city program marking its 12th founding anniversary.

From Kidapawan, he will go to Carmen in North Cotabato before returning to Davao City for separate meetings with Speaker Prospero Nograles and other local leaders before returning to Manila.

Complete political infrastructure

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Prospero Pichay, Jr., campaign manager of the administration Senate ticket, said the party can concentrate its resources because they only have six candidates.

“The administration party is the only political entity with complete political infrastructure down to the grassroots level. Lakas-Kampi-CMD will pour all its resources so that the administration wins a comfortable majority in both houses of Congress, and to do that, we will concentrate a lot of political resources on getting our six candidates to the Senate,” Pichay said.

The administration senatorial slate is composed of incumbent Senators Ramon Revilla and Lito Lapid Jr., former Justice secretary Silvestre Bello III, Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary Raul Lambino, broadcaster Rey Langit, and Binalonan Mayor and League of Municipalities of the Philippines president Ramon Guico.