Lakas seen as 'party of the future' under Teodoro

By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star)
Updated November 13, 2009 12:00 AM


MANILA, Philippines - A top administration party official claimed yesterday that President Arroyo, who had resigned as chair of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, sees Lakas becoming the “party of the future” under the leadership of presidential aspirant Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

Ray Roquero, Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary-general, said that after the party’s executive committee meeting last Wednesday, “there was an affirmation of the President’s call for the party to transform itself from the party of the present
to the party of the future.”

Aside from Mrs. Arroyo, other party leaders including Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, party president, and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio, secretary-general, have also stepped down.

Teodoro will assume the party chairmanship when Lakas-Kampi-CMD holds a national convention on Nov. 19.

Ermita claimed that the new party leaders are forward-looking and infused with a can-do attitude that would inspire the Filipino people.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD has the program to tackle the urgent tasks of post-calamity reconstruction and rebuilding the economy after last year’s global financial meltdown, party officials said.

“We are looking ahead toward a course of greater economic liberalization and political reform,” Roquero said.

Teodoro’s assumption to the top party position is more than symbolic, party officials said.

Ermita hailed Teodoro as the “transforming leader” the country needs to inspire change in values and behavior of their co-leaders and citizens.

He said Teodoro would reinvigorate the spirit of idealism and reform and a sense of national purpose that became the platform of the then Lakas-NUCD when Fidel V. Ramos launched the party that helped him win the presidency in 1992.

Unlike Ramos who built his reputation in the military and was a hero of the first EDSA People Power revolt, Teodoro has had a stellar career in law and politics. After topping the Bar examination in 1989, he went to Harvard before winning three consecutive terms as congressman of Tarlac’s first district.

Teodoro became the country’s youngest defense secretary when he joined the Arroyo Cabinet in 2006.

“Secretary Teodoro is heir to the glorious tradition of great leadership that has been the hallmark of Lakas-CMD and Kampi,” said Misamis Occidental Gov. Leo Ocampos, president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.

“Teodoro has the capacity to energize this party, and he will lead by the power of his reform program,” he said.

BF denies he will be Gibo’s running mate

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando denied reports that he has been offered by the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD to become the running mate of Teodoro.

“There’s no offer, it’s not true,” he told The STAR over the phone.

Fernando reiterated that he is still bent on his bid for the presidency as an independent candidate.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri have turned down offers of the administration party for them to be the running mate of Teodoro.

Teodoro said that there are ongoing talks with other possible running mates, and that talks that the administration is running out of choices for vice presidential bet are just political intrigues.

“They just don’t know what is the truth. They are just saying this to promote intrigues,” Teodoro said, referring to reports that nobody wanted to be his running mate.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III said it would be difficult for the administration to find a running mate for Teodoro because the Lakas-Kampi-CMD team would have to defend the Arroyo administration. – With James Mananghaya, Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude


Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=522908&publicationSubCategoryId=63