ELECTION 2010: Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr for President;

paano na ang pangarap ni BAYANI FERNANDO? 

PHILSTAR.COM

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan , Philippines – Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. will be the standard-bearer of the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD in next year’s presidential elections, Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia said yesterday.

At Malacañang, presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said Lakas-Kampi will try to proclaim its presidential bet by Thursday after the meeting of the party’s national executive committee.

Garcia, a Lakas-Kampi stalwart, made the announcement yesterday during Teodoro’s visit to Bataan to assess the extent of damage caused by widespread flooding over the past week.

“As of yesterday morning, he is our party’s presidential standard-bearer,” Garcia said.

In response, Teodoro said he respects the party’s selection process.

“I cannot say that I am the one out of respect to the party which I submitted myself to its selection processes,” Teodoro said.

“Those who say they’re the one is doing a great disrespect to the party,” he added.

Garcia said once Teodoro is officially chosen as Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer, he would be included in the survey screens.

“Once he is officially declared as Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer, he will pick up in survey ratings, and those on top will drop down.”

Most governors nationwide have already endorsed Teodoro’s presidential bid, Garcia said.

From his aerial and land surveys of flood-stricken Bataan yesterday, Teodoro proceeded to Iba, Zambales where he ordered the immediate release of additional disaster funds for the local governments.

Lakas-Kampi surprise

At Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said Lakas-Kampi might pull off a surprise in next year’s presidential elections.

Ermita said they are not worried over the high survey ratings of other presidential contenders.

“Our party is big, strong and tough and we will go by the (selection) process,” Ermita said.

“You will be surprised that when we have a standard-bearer, there are people coming in from other parties to our party.”

Ermita said one of the big mistakes of national candidates is complacency.

“Just because they know they’re strong in surveys, that’s enough to carry them (so) they take things for granted, they belittle the others. That should not happen,” he said.

Claudio said some presidential aspirants have already stumbled but the race has not started yet.

“Before this gets to us, it is already causing a lot of nervousness and might trigger a reversal of strategies among the opposition,” he said.

Once Lakas-Kampi proclaims its standard-bearer, the voters would examine his qualifications and track record, Claudio said.