MANILA – Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro does not want to keep his hopes up even is he is projected to be chosen as the standard bearer of the Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD).
The ruling party’s national executive committee meeting started Wednesday morning at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD secretary-general and presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio told ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda” that they could come up with a decision by noontime.
Teodoro said in a separate interview that he is feeling somewhat tense before the meeting started.
“Pero nakakataba ng puso ang mga suporta ng mga miyembro na nakuha ko so ‘di ko makakalimutan iyon kahit kailanman yung tiwala nila sa akin,” he added.
A total of 84 Lakas-Kampi-CMD and party-list representatives have declared their support for Teodoro. Majority of governors in the League of Provinces of the Philippines also endorsed his presidential bid.
Teodoro believes that he was able to get the support of congressmen and governors because of his coordination with them as defense secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) chairman.
It has been reported that the party will choose between Teodoro and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando.
Claudio told ANC that Vice-President Noli de Castro did not join the selection process for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer.
“Ako po ay nananalig na kung ano man ang maging pasiya ng national executive committee at ng buong partido ay pareho nilang susuportahan at tutulungan na maging matagumpay ang magiging kampanya kung sino man ang mahihirang sa araw na ito,” said Claudio.
President or nothing
Teodoro also mentioned that he is not happy that de Castro is not in the selection process.
“Ang gusto ko malawakan ang proseso kasi partido importante eh. So lahat ng puwedeng i-consider dapat i-consider ng partido kasi lagay naman ako sa sarili ko. Pag hindi ako mapili, marami naman akong options,” he said.
While it is clear that it is the presidency or nothing for him, Teodoro said it is difficult to draw conclusions right away.
“Kung hindi mangyari yung nominasyon ko eh ibang calculation na naman ang kailangang gawin. Kakausapin ko na naman ang pamilya ko kung ano ang mga options namin.”
The defense secretary remarked: “Hindi ako magpapakamatay bukas kung hindi ako mapili eh so lagay ako sa sarili ko.”
Loyalty
In a press conference on Tuesday, Fernando said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD should choose him because of his loyalty to the party.
While Fernando has been a true Lakas member, Teodoro, on the other had, recently joined the ruling party.
Teodoro, who came from the Nationalist’s Party Coalition (NPC), was sworn in as a Lakas member last July.
“Totoo yun, pero ako ay nanumpa sa Lakas-Kampi-CMD,” said Teodoro. “Ang paninilbihan ko sa administrasyon ay nakikita naman nila na tapat din naman.”
“At ang question ng loyalty ay importante din pero hindi lamang yun ang solo na criteria para pumili ng isang standard-bearer,” he noted.
Kiss of death
If he will be chosen as the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer, Teodoro would be endorsed by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Critics have commented that such scenario would be a kiss of death for the defense secretary.
“Hindi naman kiss of death yun kasi parte kami ng administrasyon,” he pointed out. “Ngayon ang challenge diyan mapakita mo sa iyong sarili kung ikaw kandidato, ano bang ang gagawin mo para sa kinabukasan ng bansa?”
“Yun naman ang imporatante kaya tayo tumatakbo ng presidente. Hindi para tumingin sa nakaraan kung hindi tumingin sa kinabukasan,” he said.
“Ano ba ang kaya mong gawin para maingat ang bansa mo, gawin mong lider sa Asya, gawin mong progresibo, gawin mong matahimik? Yun ang importante.”
Teodoro also dispelled speculations that he would protect Arroyo from possible cases that would be filed against her if he succeeds her.
“Ang isang presidente, kung makialam sa isang proseso sa hukuman, hindi na hustisya yun, benggansa yun,” he noted.
”At oras na ang isang presidente makialam sa prosecution, wala ng magagawa ang presidente na iyan kasi 50 percent of the time nakatingin sa likod niya na huwag ding gawin sa kaniya.”
“Kaya dapat isantabi na natin yan. Gamutin na natin ang mga sugat natin at pagkaisahin natin ang ating bansa,” he stated. “Masyado ng benggansa sa pulitka eh, yung bawian. Itigil na natin yan wala na tayong panahon para diyan.”
Presidentiable
Teodoro did not name his preferred running mate if ever he becomes the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer.
He said he would have to do consultations first. Though he said he does not have a problem with having a tandem with Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, whose vice presidential bid is said to be final.
Meanwhile, he remains unfazed by his weak showing in political surveys. He is optimistic that his campaign will gain ground.
“Kung magkaisa na ang partido, nagsama-sama na lahat ng miyembro, hindi puwedeng hindi umakyat yun eh,” he claimed.
“At pagdating ng Nov. 30, sabay-sabay na naman kami na magkakandito kung sino man ang mag-file ng certificate of candidacy.”
When asked about what would be the first thing he would do if he becomes President, he said he would work for structural reform.
“Hihikayatin ko ang kongreso magpasa ng con-con [Constitutional Convention] law na partisan para puwede kaming mag-advocate para sa ganun pag-aralan na natin ang ating Saligang Batas na sa akin, yan ay sanhi ng maraming diperansya sa ating lipunan,” said Teodoro.
Healthy competition
For Teodoro, another consequence of being named as the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer is going against his kin.
His second cousin, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, has announced his presidential bid under the Liberal Party.
“Nung naging congressmen kami, naging magkaibigan kami. Ngayon very conscious sa amin na magkaibigan kami, magpinsan kami at di namin papayagan na masira ang pagkakaibigan namin sa pulitika,” noted Teodoro.
He added that a presidential race between himself and Aquino will even be good for Philippine politics.
“We will not resort to mudslinging,” he assured. “Kung kaming dalawa man na magkakatunggali, aasahan natin na mataas ang estado ng debate naming dalawa.”
He continued, “Si Noynoy ay hindi lamang Noynoy, Liberal Party member siya. Ako Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Partido at saka plataporma ang hinaharap namin sa taong-bayan.”
“Kaya maganda rin naman na kaming dalawa kung saka-sakali dahil issue talaga ang ihaharap namin.”
He said they will not allow themselves to take the fight personally. “We learned how to be friends and that’s precious to us.”
Teodoro shared that he and Noynoy did not know each other very well before they became congressmen because of their “different sides of the political fence then.”
Meantime, their uncle, Danding Cojuangco, is the NPC chairman emeritus.
“Iba rin ang pinaninindigan niya eh so dapat ihiwalay nalang yung personal sa professional,” Teodoro said of Cojuangco, who is also the chairman and chief executive officer of San Miguel Corp.
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