Arroyo to pass torch to Teodoro

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:27:00 11/08/2009

Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Politics


MANILA, Philippines--Contrary to reports, President Macapagal-Arroyo is not quitting the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD and is merely turning over the chairmanship to its presumptive standard-bearer, Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro.

“Lakas-Kampi will remain PGMA’s party. She has been the moving spirit behind the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi,” party secretary general Gabriel Claudio said Saturday in a text message.

Ms Arroyo will turn over the Lakas-Kampi-CMD chairmanship to Teodoro at the party convention on Nov. 19 “in keeping with party tradition,” according to Claudio.

“She will maintain her presence and influence over the Lakas-Kampi members, particularly in exhorting and inspiring them to work hard for the victory of Secretary Gibo in his bid for the presidency,” Claudio said.

Preparing herself

But political analyst Ramon Casiple said there was something more to the turnover than met the eye, pointing out that a party’s chairmanship was usually given to its highest elected official.

“She (Ms Arroyo) is starting to prepare herself to run for Congress. She doesn’t need the position. She was probably requested to give it up because she’s dragging down Gibo,” Casiple said by phone.

The President has been making nearly weekly visits to Lubao and other parts of the second district of her home province Pampanga, fueling speculation that she would seek a seat in Congress in May 2010.

She has chaired Lakas-CMD since 2002, and kept doing so when it merged with Kampi late in May, Casiple observed.

Despite its vaunted machinery and war chest, the ruling party could not coax popular personalities to become Teodoro’s running mate—a failure that observers attribute to a low public regard for the scandal-plagued administration.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde echoed Claudio’s statement.

“I have to confirm that’s the plan of the President—to pass the torch to Secretary Teodoro. Secondly, it has become a tradition in Lakas that whoever will be the standard-bearer more or less becomes the head of the party,” Remonde said.


Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091108-234898/Arroyo-to-pass-torch-to-Teodoro