Lakas head says shift in voters choice to favor Teodoro in long run

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:56:00 12/29/2009




Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Politics


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20091229-244551/Lakas-head-says-shift-in-voters-choice-to-favor-Teodoro-in-long-run


ALABEL, Sarangani—There will be a significant shift of choice among voters in favor of administration presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro because of his qualifications, Sarangani Gov. Rene Miguel Dominguez said Tuesday.

Dominguez, Lakas national president, said qualifications would play a key role in the choice of voters.

“Popularity is not only the basis for electing a leader,” he said.

Dominguez said Teodoro is capable of bringing the country to a new level of development.

“With majority of provinces, cities, and municipalities supporting Gibo because of his leadership qualities, competence, integrity, the electorate in the next five months will choose wisely,” he said.

Business surveys

Dominguez said less publicized surveys, conducted in business communities, showed Teodoro, a bar topnotcher and Harvard trained lawyer, doing well.

Dominguez said Teodoro’s platform for running the country would convince voters.

In Tarlac City, Teodoro said candidates within his family owe it to the next generation of Tarlaquenos to secure the future of the province.

Teodoro vowed “not to allow history to repeat itself” and to put personal squabbles to rest and move on.

Speaking before his province mates on Saturday night during the Christmas party of the Lakas-CMD, Teodoro reiterated his message of peace and unity for his province.

Better politicians

“Tarlac does not deserve to be embroiled in personal squabbles. We don’t want what happened before to be repeated,” he said.

He was referring to the long drawn feud between his uncles, tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. and former Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., that ripped the province apart for decades.

“Let us do something right,” Teodoro said.

Aside from name or family, platform and performance should be the measure, he said. “We should re-shape the language of politics and recognize that we are here to perform a political role and to be better politicians,” he said. Teodoro served three terms as representative of Tarlac’s first district before being appointed defense secretary. His wife, Nikki Monica Prieto-Teodoro, now serves as the district’s representative.

Teodoro was a key leader of the Nationalist People’s Coalition but bolted the party because of a misunderstanding with his uncle and Nationalist People’s Coalition chair emeritus, Eduardo Cojuangco.

No more clash

Recent developments in his district showed that Teodoro had veered away from a direct clash with Danding or family members who are with the NPC.

Danding’s younger brother, Henry Cojuangco, is now running for the post currently occupied by Prieto-Teodoro unopposed by any relative.

Factions of the Cojuangco clan clashed in the past. In 1965 and 1969, Danding and Peping Cojuangco battled it out. Peping won in the first battle but withdrew in the rematch “to prevent bloodshed and maintain peace in the province.”

In 1992, Henry Cojuangco clashed with Peping’s wife, Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, in the Tarlac gubernatorial race. Tingting won. Inquirer Mindanao and Jo Martinez-Clemente, contributor


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20091229-244551/Lakas-head-says-shift-in-voters-choice-to-favor-Teodoro-in-long-run