At the meeting with Lakas governors

Our special presentation on Straight from the Sky tonight, we bring you our last political show with no less than Lakas-Kampi Presidential Standard bearer Sec. Gilberto “GIBO” Teodoro Jr. joined by One Cebu Party’s Gubernatorial bet Gov. Gwen F. Garcia and her vice-gubernatorial candidate Glenn Soco. With seven days more to do in this political campaign, we would like to hear from them how their respective campaigns have fared. So watch this very interesting show tonight on SkyCable’s channel 15 at 8:00pm.

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It was a very hectic Saturday when the Cebu Green Team went to the Marco Polo Hotel to met GIBO Teodoro, who once more had a meeting with the so-called Palabra de Honor group of Lakas-Kampi Governors and Congressmen at the grand ballroom. That meeting resulted in the Cebu Declaration, which was read by Lanao del Norte Gov. Khalid Dimaporo. It was a simple declaration of support for GIBO as the Presidential bet of the Lakas-Kampi and all those in the conference room signed it.

Earlier, before GIBO Teodoro arrived, Rep. Amelita Villarosa, Lakas-Kampi CMD chairperson, spoke in no uncertain terms that of the total of 17,925 contested seats being contested nationwide from President down to the city or municipal councils more than 12,000 belongs to the Lakas party. With no more defections expected in just seven more days until Election Day, Rep. Villarosa pointed out that in terms of votes, this translates to some 11 million votes from the Lakas, which was already marred by defections.

 Of course the Lakas can never be sure if there would still be some politicos who would shift party loyalties in the last stretch of this highly-charged political race. But I did overhear someone tell the Lakas Chairman to watch out for a particular politico because they were not sure of his loyalties. Rep. Villarosa merely said if the person cannot be trusted, then we will not give him any financial support. Indeed as I suspected, that meeting was perhaps the most important in this race as it is the perfect time for the Lakas to give its financial aid to its members.

Of course, we will never know how much each Governor or Congressman received but I suspect that it is enough to carry GIBO Teodoro to victory in the May 10 elections. Mind you, not all the politicos there came from the Lakas Party. My good friend Rep. George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) but will support GIBO even if he has not moved to the Lakas Party. I also saw Gov. Enrico Aumentado who was reported to have shifted to Manny Villar, but apparently he has remained with the Lakas despite his problems with Rep. Chatto of Bohol. I also met with Vice-Mayor Ishmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.

Gov. Gwen who hosted the meeting made a very impassioned speech. She gave a repeat of her now famous Palabra de honor speech that she did before Holy Week but adding, “We are known as politicians, but we are really public servants. We should remind ourselves that word of honor still exist in this country especially in politics. But there is a new age of politics that we must embrace so we can reclaim the people’s trust in us because we have word of honor. We will prove our leadership not just for our own personal victories, but to ensure that GIBO Teodoro Jr. becomes the next President!’

I have no doubt that Cebu under Gov. Gwen Garcia would play a huge role under a GIBO Teodoro Presidency. Looking further ahead three years from now, things even look brighter for Gov. Gwen, especially that she has shown her leadership amongst the Lakas Governors who comprise the majority of all the governors in the country.

When GIBO arrived, the Green Team was allowed inside the Ballroom and they sang and danced to the tune of Rivermaya, impressing all the Governors and Congressmen present. They were soon told by GIBO that the Green Team all over the country was his major supporter. When he made his speech, it was the most Presidential speech that I have ever heard from GIBO. Indeed, he is ready to take on the role of President!

GIBO pointed out that in two huge rallies that he attended, on at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) for Luigi Quisumbing’s rally and the other in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, it rained when he was still speaking, but the crowd did not leave. GIBO said, “Those people did not leave because they were sick and tired of our kind of politics today. We need to stop fooling the people; rather it is us who should help them. Do it not for us, but for them… after all we get elected by them.”

 Then GIBO said that we need to change and capacitate the Local Government Units (LGU) and give them more autonomy and even shift to Federalism for those areas that are ready for it. He already said this before that Cebu is one place that can be Federalized. This change must happen!