By ARIS R. ILAGAN
From Manila Bulletin
Link: http://mb.com.ph/articles/251417/41-governors-show-gibo
At least 41 provincial governors belonging to the League of Provinces Tuesday showed up during a “loyalty check” initiated by Albay Governor Joey Salceda to reaffirm their support for the presidential bid of former Defense secretary and now Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. amid pressing problems now hounding the ruling party.
From Manila Bulletin
Link: http://mb.com.ph/articles/251417/41-governors-show-gibo
At least 41 provincial governors belonging to the League of Provinces Tuesday showed up during a “loyalty check” initiated by Albay Governor Joey Salceda to reaffirm their support for the presidential bid of former Defense secretary and now Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. amid pressing problems now hounding the ruling party.
The 41 governors were among the 51 provincial chief executives who signed a manifesto of support for Teodoro last month.
Salceda said that they have to check the status of other governors who were absent, adding they might have valid reasons for not being able to appear during the meeting.
“In this kind of (political) climate, physical presence is already very important,” Salceda pointed out.
In an interview, Salceda said he initiated the “Govs for Gibo” meeting in order to have a positive start following the recent developments that affected their ranks, particularly the sudden resignation of Teodoro as party chairman.
Salceda said the recent attacks on the ruling party, specifically on the issues of “GloriAquino” and “VillArroyo”, was already triggering confusion among many of the country’s provincial governors.
“These are vicious attacks to our party,” Salceda said.
Salceda described the administration party as “being placed under political resuscitation”.
The reported lack of funding for the administration bets was also among the pressing issues now rocking the ruling party.
But Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III and Mayor Ramon Guico quick to deny any funding problem in the party.
Both senatorial bets termed as “a malicious canard” a report alleging that newly-appointed party chair Rep. Amelita Villarosa was blaming the party's senatorial campaign manager, Prospero Pichay, for a current shortage in funding for their campaigns. Joining them in Pichay's defense were award-winning broadcaster Rey Langit and constitutional lawyer Raul Lambino, who likewise deplored the malicious news story regarding the party finances.
Bello and Guico said Pichay had been transparent regarding the amount of funding given by the party for six-man senate slate's expenses.
“We are expressing our common and unequivocal faith in Butch Pichay. He has not held back on the funding allocated for our campaign by the party, and he has even gone to the extent of advancing his own funds just to ensure that our campaigns continue chugging along until the party can bring in the second tranche for the home-stretch,” said Lambino.
Among those present during the caucus held at the Magellan Room of Discovery Suites in Pasig City were governors Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu and Migs Dominguez of Saranggani. Basilan Rep. Jam Akbar phoned Salceda last Monday night that she cannot attend the meeting but reaffirmed her support to Gibo.
Villarosa and party secretary-general Ray Roquero also showed up during the closed-door meeting. Lambino also dropped by the meeting.
Salceda pointed out that the meeting was also designed for the party leaders to re-strategize their political moves to ensure the victory of their candidates from the national level down to the local bets.
The Albay governor admitted that their group was surprised on the sudden resignation of Gibo as party chairman even to the point that some of them were disheartened over the former Defense secretary’s decision which, they claimed, was done without prior consultation.
After the meeting, the provincial governors signed a manifesto re-affirming their support for the candidacy of Teodoro.
“We remained steadfast in our conviction that Gibo Teodoro is the most deserving among all the presidential candidates to lead the nation in the next six years. We have not wavered in our support and we resolve even more to work for his victory,” the manifesto said.
In October 2009, the same group signed a manifesto, urging the Lakas-Kampi-CMD to choose Teodoro as its official candidate for the presidential race on May 10.
Salceda said that they have to check the status of other governors who were absent, adding they might have valid reasons for not being able to appear during the meeting.
“In this kind of (political) climate, physical presence is already very important,” Salceda pointed out.
In an interview, Salceda said he initiated the “Govs for Gibo” meeting in order to have a positive start following the recent developments that affected their ranks, particularly the sudden resignation of Teodoro as party chairman.
Salceda said the recent attacks on the ruling party, specifically on the issues of “GloriAquino” and “VillArroyo”, was already triggering confusion among many of the country’s provincial governors.
“These are vicious attacks to our party,” Salceda said.
Salceda described the administration party as “being placed under political resuscitation”.
The reported lack of funding for the administration bets was also among the pressing issues now rocking the ruling party.
But Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III and Mayor Ramon Guico quick to deny any funding problem in the party.
Both senatorial bets termed as “a malicious canard” a report alleging that newly-appointed party chair Rep. Amelita Villarosa was blaming the party's senatorial campaign manager, Prospero Pichay, for a current shortage in funding for their campaigns. Joining them in Pichay's defense were award-winning broadcaster Rey Langit and constitutional lawyer Raul Lambino, who likewise deplored the malicious news story regarding the party finances.
Bello and Guico said Pichay had been transparent regarding the amount of funding given by the party for six-man senate slate's expenses.
“We are expressing our common and unequivocal faith in Butch Pichay. He has not held back on the funding allocated for our campaign by the party, and he has even gone to the extent of advancing his own funds just to ensure that our campaigns continue chugging along until the party can bring in the second tranche for the home-stretch,” said Lambino.
Among those present during the caucus held at the Magellan Room of Discovery Suites in Pasig City were governors Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu and Migs Dominguez of Saranggani. Basilan Rep. Jam Akbar phoned Salceda last Monday night that she cannot attend the meeting but reaffirmed her support to Gibo.
Villarosa and party secretary-general Ray Roquero also showed up during the closed-door meeting. Lambino also dropped by the meeting.
Salceda pointed out that the meeting was also designed for the party leaders to re-strategize their political moves to ensure the victory of their candidates from the national level down to the local bets.
The Albay governor admitted that their group was surprised on the sudden resignation of Gibo as party chairman even to the point that some of them were disheartened over the former Defense secretary’s decision which, they claimed, was done without prior consultation.
After the meeting, the provincial governors signed a manifesto re-affirming their support for the candidacy of Teodoro.
“We remained steadfast in our conviction that Gibo Teodoro is the most deserving among all the presidential candidates to lead the nation in the next six years. We have not wavered in our support and we resolve even more to work for his victory,” the manifesto said.
In October 2009, the same group signed a manifesto, urging the Lakas-Kampi-CMD to choose Teodoro as its official candidate for the presidential race on May 10.
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