By Mario J. Mallari, Marie A. Surbano and Aytch S. de la Cruz
From The Daily Tribune
Link: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100406nat2.html
Administration standard-bearer in the elections next month, Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. is being urged to sever ties with President Arroyo, who has reportedly been secretly supporting the candidacy of Nacionalist Party presidential bet, Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr.
In a statement released to the media yesterday, Detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim called on Teodoro, the Lakas-Kampi-Christian-Muslim Democrats’ presidential bet, to immediately cut ties with Arroyo if he wants to get rid of the “decoy candidate” tag.
Lim said Arroyo only serves to pull down Teodoro’s image and reputation as a very credible presidential candidate and unfairly drags him to the so-called “VillArroyo” issue.
Rumors circulated over the weekend, saying Teodoro had decided to quit his post as chairman of the administration party due to Arroyo’s lack of support to his presidential campaign and due to it he is deemed as a “dummy candidate” of the administration.
“If Gibo wants to be treated as a candidate that is neither a ‘dummy candidate’ nor someone shackled to the administration, he should immediately declare independence and run on his accord,” Lim said.
He said Arroyo’s inaction even as the administration party is on the brink of total collapse is a clear indication that she has already jumped ship.
Lim, a West Point graduate who is running for senator in the polls next month, called on Teodoro to “do the right thing,” saying the latter’s presidential bid would be better off without the dead weight that is Arroyo.
“Now is the time to show to the people the ‘real Teodoro’ beyond the lies and the lame party loyalties shoved to them by Mrs. Arroyo. Gibo gains nothing by remaining loyal to somebody who was never true to him. Hence, we enjoin him to ditch Gloria and by so doing, expose with finality her real candidate in this election,” Lim said.
Reports yesterday said Teodoro will announce his withdrawal from the presidential race in a press conference on Monday. Some political pundits described it as confirmation of Arroyo’s having secretly forged an alliance with Villar, with the media dubbing it as “Villarroyo.”
Teodoro, however, immediately denied that he is withdrawing from the presidential race. He said the rumors came from “sectors that will cast aside all notions of decency to satiate their salivation and hunger for power through the presidency.”
“I only have respect and admiration for Teodoro. I believe he is a worthy presidential contender. The people are not asking him to quit from the presidential race. He has all the right and qualifications to run. All we are asking is for him to quit Gloria (Arroyo), like what Gloria already did to him and like what the Filipino people long ago did to her nine-year misrule” Lim said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, stressed that the administration can no longer replace Teodoro as its standard-bearer if he does withdraw from the presidential contest.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said candidates who will back out at this point can not name their replacements, neither can their party.
“At this stage, only candidates who have died or disqualified are eligible for substitution. If a candidate backs out, he is considered withdrawn from the electoral race, that’s it,” Jimenez told reporters.
Asked if this could result in the administration party being left with no standard-bearer if Teodoro backs out, Jimenez said yes.
“They (administration) will not be entitled to it (substitution),” he stressed.
Comelec Chairman Jose Melo had previously said that the poll body will limit the reasons for allowing the substitution of candidates to death and disqualification.
For its part, Malacañang yesterday reiterated that it would be better for Teodoro to keep campaigning on his own or without the active participation of Arroyo to dispel allegations over his “legitimacy” as the administration stand-bearer.
“The President has always maintained repeatedly that governance will be her top priority and campaigning whether for herself or even for the standard-bearer must always have to come second,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said in the regular press briefing at the Palace.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD acting national chairman, Rep. Maria Amelita Villarosa (lone district of Occidental Mindoro province) also said Arroyo’s presence in Teodoro’s campaign sorties is no longer necessary because the full support of the entire administration coalition is with him – and with him alone.
“I don’t think there is any need for that (Arroyo campaigning for Teodoro). The mere fact all of the President’s allies are working very hard for (the candidacy of) Gibo is an indication of the support of the President,” she said during a chance interview with reporters in Arroyo’s hometown of Lubao in Pampanga province, where the President celebrated her birthday yesterday.
In a separate interview with reporters, presidential son, Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) shrugged off the rumors on the Villar-Arroyo alliance.
“Speculations will always be there. As I’ve said, we can never do away with those who do not want to believe. But to those who would care to listen, we will not grow tired of explaining ourselves,” he said.
He said Teodoro is scheduled to campaign in Pampanga tomorrow and that the local government of the province is the one making the preparations for it.
From The Daily Tribune
Link: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100406nat2.html
Administration standard-bearer in the elections next month, Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. is being urged to sever ties with President Arroyo, who has reportedly been secretly supporting the candidacy of Nacionalist Party presidential bet, Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr.
In a statement released to the media yesterday, Detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim called on Teodoro, the Lakas-Kampi-Christian-Muslim Democrats’ presidential bet, to immediately cut ties with Arroyo if he wants to get rid of the “decoy candidate” tag.
Lim said Arroyo only serves to pull down Teodoro’s image and reputation as a very credible presidential candidate and unfairly drags him to the so-called “VillArroyo” issue.
Rumors circulated over the weekend, saying Teodoro had decided to quit his post as chairman of the administration party due to Arroyo’s lack of support to his presidential campaign and due to it he is deemed as a “dummy candidate” of the administration.
“If Gibo wants to be treated as a candidate that is neither a ‘dummy candidate’ nor someone shackled to the administration, he should immediately declare independence and run on his accord,” Lim said.
He said Arroyo’s inaction even as the administration party is on the brink of total collapse is a clear indication that she has already jumped ship.
Lim, a West Point graduate who is running for senator in the polls next month, called on Teodoro to “do the right thing,” saying the latter’s presidential bid would be better off without the dead weight that is Arroyo.
“Now is the time to show to the people the ‘real Teodoro’ beyond the lies and the lame party loyalties shoved to them by Mrs. Arroyo. Gibo gains nothing by remaining loyal to somebody who was never true to him. Hence, we enjoin him to ditch Gloria and by so doing, expose with finality her real candidate in this election,” Lim said.
Reports yesterday said Teodoro will announce his withdrawal from the presidential race in a press conference on Monday. Some political pundits described it as confirmation of Arroyo’s having secretly forged an alliance with Villar, with the media dubbing it as “Villarroyo.”
Teodoro, however, immediately denied that he is withdrawing from the presidential race. He said the rumors came from “sectors that will cast aside all notions of decency to satiate their salivation and hunger for power through the presidency.”
“I only have respect and admiration for Teodoro. I believe he is a worthy presidential contender. The people are not asking him to quit from the presidential race. He has all the right and qualifications to run. All we are asking is for him to quit Gloria (Arroyo), like what Gloria already did to him and like what the Filipino people long ago did to her nine-year misrule” Lim said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, stressed that the administration can no longer replace Teodoro as its standard-bearer if he does withdraw from the presidential contest.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said candidates who will back out at this point can not name their replacements, neither can their party.
“At this stage, only candidates who have died or disqualified are eligible for substitution. If a candidate backs out, he is considered withdrawn from the electoral race, that’s it,” Jimenez told reporters.
Asked if this could result in the administration party being left with no standard-bearer if Teodoro backs out, Jimenez said yes.
“They (administration) will not be entitled to it (substitution),” he stressed.
Comelec Chairman Jose Melo had previously said that the poll body will limit the reasons for allowing the substitution of candidates to death and disqualification.
For its part, Malacañang yesterday reiterated that it would be better for Teodoro to keep campaigning on his own or without the active participation of Arroyo to dispel allegations over his “legitimacy” as the administration stand-bearer.
“The President has always maintained repeatedly that governance will be her top priority and campaigning whether for herself or even for the standard-bearer must always have to come second,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said in the regular press briefing at the Palace.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD acting national chairman, Rep. Maria Amelita Villarosa (lone district of Occidental Mindoro province) also said Arroyo’s presence in Teodoro’s campaign sorties is no longer necessary because the full support of the entire administration coalition is with him – and with him alone.
“I don’t think there is any need for that (Arroyo campaigning for Teodoro). The mere fact all of the President’s allies are working very hard for (the candidacy of) Gibo is an indication of the support of the President,” she said during a chance interview with reporters in Arroyo’s hometown of Lubao in Pampanga province, where the President celebrated her birthday yesterday.
In a separate interview with reporters, presidential son, Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) shrugged off the rumors on the Villar-Arroyo alliance.
“Speculations will always be there. As I’ve said, we can never do away with those who do not want to believe. But to those who would care to listen, we will not grow tired of explaining ourselves,” he said.
He said Teodoro is scheduled to campaign in Pampanga tomorrow and that the local government of the province is the one making the preparations for it.
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