BY JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA Reporter With reports from Angelo S. Samonte and Jomar Canlas
From The Manila Times
Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/14579-victory-or-nothing-for-gibo
Former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro said that he would never waver in his determination to win the May 10 race for president despite supposed disarray within the ruling coalition caused by alleged lack of funds for its more than 12,000 other candidates.
The standard-bearer of the administration party, Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), at the same time dismissed talks about his planned withdrawal from next month’s elections, which will pick President Gloria Arroyo’s successor.
“Rumors have been circulating that I will allegedly call a press conference this Monday [April 5] to announce my withdrawal from the race [to Malacañang]. Such rumors are originating from sectors that will cast aside all notions of decency to satiate their salivation and hunger for power through the presidency,” Teodoro said over the weekend.
According to him, the talks have only reinforced his resolve to make a stand and continue the fight for the highest post in the land.
“I will settle for no less than victory, our people deserve no less. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas [Long live the Philippines]!” he said.
No object
Money was no object where campaigns of local and national candidates of Lakas-Kampi CMD were concerned, according to House Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa.
Villarosa, the newly-designated chairman of the administration party, also over the weekend maintained that funding support for local and national campaign operations of some 12,900 party candidates and alleged threat of defections are the least of concerns of the new management team of the party.
“Funding is not a problem, it never was. Lakas-Kampi CMD is rock-solid and united behind the candidacy of Gibo and the rest of the national ticket,” Villarosa said.
“Seeing the party divided is the ultimate goal of certain rivals who have been trying every smear trick available to them,” she added.
Villarosa said that they are more concerned about scheduling campaign sorties in the national and local levels.
Like the House Deputy Speaker, Malacanang Seputy Spokesman Gary Olivar said also over the weekend that the issue about the alleged lack of funds or that about shifting support of some Lakas-Kampi CMD members are nothing to worry about.
“On the problems about lack of money, you know the local campaign just started recently so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some glitches or problems about the release of funds,” he added.
“The problems in the flow of money may be the cause of the recent reorganization in the party but it should not be viewed that (President Gloria Arroyo) has dwindling support for the party standard-bearer,” Olivar said.
The President, the Palace spokesman added, will always be supportive of Teodoro because she believes that he can continue the programs of her administration.
She replaced Teodoro as chairman of Lakas-Kampi CMD and two other officials of the ruling party who also had resigned to prevent an exodus of members who are allegedly in desperate search for campaign funds.
At an emergency meeting of the executive committee called by President Arroyo on Wednesday night, Francis Manglapus was named president and Raymundo Roquero, secretary-general.
Support withdrawn
Some Lakas-Kampi CMD members were reported to have said that with less than 40 days before the May 10 elections, defections because of lack of money are not a good sign for the party.
There also were rumors that Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, President Arroyo’s husband, allegedly had pressured the Garcia family of Cebu to withdraw their support for Teodoro’s candidacy.
Two senatorial candidates of Lakas-Kampi CMD in the May 10 balloting belied the rumors, which they said were only an attempt to divide the ruling coalition.
“I think none of us six Lakas-Kampi CMD Senate bets knew of or has personal knowledge that [Mr. Arroyo] was instigating our local executive party mates to switch sides. Those [talks] could just be part of a disinformation campaign aimed at derailing Gibo’s bid [for president],” lawyer Raul Lambino said.
Broadcaster Rey Langit said that the support of the Garcia clan, led by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu and her father Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu, for all Lakas-Kampi CMD national candidates remains intact.
In the May 10 polls, the ruling party has fielded 12,900 candidates, which comprise about two-thirds of those running for local posts.
These candidates, according to Villarosa, have vowed to remain loyal to the administration party and, in fact, have started campaigning for Teodoro.
Roquero said that separate groups are behind campaign operations of the senatorial ticket and those of the standard-bearer and his running mate, Edu Manzano.
Funding requirements to back local campaign, he added, are being handled by national headquarters. Roquero and Villarosa said that the original campaign strategy of Lakas-Kampi CMD is being carried out with minor changes.
“We have reached the critical point of the campaign, we have to go down to the barangay [village] level as swiftly as we can,” Villarosa said.
The House Deputy Speaker, who took over as administration party chairman in the wake of the resignation of Teodoro last week, announced that the national executive committee will meet on Tuesday to thresh out problems affecting the local and national campaigns.
“The leadership will also have to act decisively as a party on putting an end to the disinformation campaign clearly aimed at undermining party unity. We start by asking all members to stand solidly behind Gibo’s bid for president and the rest of the team,” Villarosa said.
Grand alliance vs. GMA
All eight candidates for president, according to a senatorial bet of the Nacionalista Party, need to also consolidate their separate bids even as they as a group should stop the President’s supposed plan to stay in power beyond June 30.
By forming a “grand alliance” against Mrs. Arroyo, Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Ilocos Norte said also over the weekend, the eight aspirants would prevent the President from prolonging her presidency.
“I urge our candidates [for president] to lead the fight against any scheme by the Arroyo administration to perpetuate itself. We must keep democracy alive in this country,” he added in a statement.
The eight contenders could seal the alliance by signing a “covenant.”
Marcos said that it would be interesting to see Teodoro’s signature in the pact.
He added that he was convinced that at least two opposition candidates for president, Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. and former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada would sign the covenant.
From The Manila Times
Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/14579-victory-or-nothing-for-gibo
Former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro said that he would never waver in his determination to win the May 10 race for president despite supposed disarray within the ruling coalition caused by alleged lack of funds for its more than 12,000 other candidates.
The standard-bearer of the administration party, Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), at the same time dismissed talks about his planned withdrawal from next month’s elections, which will pick President Gloria Arroyo’s successor.
“Rumors have been circulating that I will allegedly call a press conference this Monday [April 5] to announce my withdrawal from the race [to Malacañang]. Such rumors are originating from sectors that will cast aside all notions of decency to satiate their salivation and hunger for power through the presidency,” Teodoro said over the weekend.
According to him, the talks have only reinforced his resolve to make a stand and continue the fight for the highest post in the land.
“I will settle for no less than victory, our people deserve no less. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas [Long live the Philippines]!” he said.
No object
Money was no object where campaigns of local and national candidates of Lakas-Kampi CMD were concerned, according to House Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa.
Villarosa, the newly-designated chairman of the administration party, also over the weekend maintained that funding support for local and national campaign operations of some 12,900 party candidates and alleged threat of defections are the least of concerns of the new management team of the party.
“Funding is not a problem, it never was. Lakas-Kampi CMD is rock-solid and united behind the candidacy of Gibo and the rest of the national ticket,” Villarosa said.
“Seeing the party divided is the ultimate goal of certain rivals who have been trying every smear trick available to them,” she added.
Villarosa said that they are more concerned about scheduling campaign sorties in the national and local levels.
Like the House Deputy Speaker, Malacanang Seputy Spokesman Gary Olivar said also over the weekend that the issue about the alleged lack of funds or that about shifting support of some Lakas-Kampi CMD members are nothing to worry about.
“On the problems about lack of money, you know the local campaign just started recently so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some glitches or problems about the release of funds,” he added.
“The problems in the flow of money may be the cause of the recent reorganization in the party but it should not be viewed that (President Gloria Arroyo) has dwindling support for the party standard-bearer,” Olivar said.
The President, the Palace spokesman added, will always be supportive of Teodoro because she believes that he can continue the programs of her administration.
She replaced Teodoro as chairman of Lakas-Kampi CMD and two other officials of the ruling party who also had resigned to prevent an exodus of members who are allegedly in desperate search for campaign funds.
At an emergency meeting of the executive committee called by President Arroyo on Wednesday night, Francis Manglapus was named president and Raymundo Roquero, secretary-general.
Support withdrawn
Some Lakas-Kampi CMD members were reported to have said that with less than 40 days before the May 10 elections, defections because of lack of money are not a good sign for the party.
There also were rumors that Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, President Arroyo’s husband, allegedly had pressured the Garcia family of Cebu to withdraw their support for Teodoro’s candidacy.
Two senatorial candidates of Lakas-Kampi CMD in the May 10 balloting belied the rumors, which they said were only an attempt to divide the ruling coalition.
“I think none of us six Lakas-Kampi CMD Senate bets knew of or has personal knowledge that [Mr. Arroyo] was instigating our local executive party mates to switch sides. Those [talks] could just be part of a disinformation campaign aimed at derailing Gibo’s bid [for president],” lawyer Raul Lambino said.
Broadcaster Rey Langit said that the support of the Garcia clan, led by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu and her father Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu, for all Lakas-Kampi CMD national candidates remains intact.
In the May 10 polls, the ruling party has fielded 12,900 candidates, which comprise about two-thirds of those running for local posts.
These candidates, according to Villarosa, have vowed to remain loyal to the administration party and, in fact, have started campaigning for Teodoro.
Roquero said that separate groups are behind campaign operations of the senatorial ticket and those of the standard-bearer and his running mate, Edu Manzano.
Funding requirements to back local campaign, he added, are being handled by national headquarters. Roquero and Villarosa said that the original campaign strategy of Lakas-Kampi CMD is being carried out with minor changes.
“We have reached the critical point of the campaign, we have to go down to the barangay [village] level as swiftly as we can,” Villarosa said.
The House Deputy Speaker, who took over as administration party chairman in the wake of the resignation of Teodoro last week, announced that the national executive committee will meet on Tuesday to thresh out problems affecting the local and national campaigns.
“The leadership will also have to act decisively as a party on putting an end to the disinformation campaign clearly aimed at undermining party unity. We start by asking all members to stand solidly behind Gibo’s bid for president and the rest of the team,” Villarosa said.
Grand alliance vs. GMA
All eight candidates for president, according to a senatorial bet of the Nacionalista Party, need to also consolidate their separate bids even as they as a group should stop the President’s supposed plan to stay in power beyond June 30.
By forming a “grand alliance” against Mrs. Arroyo, Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Ilocos Norte said also over the weekend, the eight aspirants would prevent the President from prolonging her presidency.
“I urge our candidates [for president] to lead the fight against any scheme by the Arroyo administration to perpetuate itself. We must keep democracy alive in this country,” he added in a statement.
The eight contenders could seal the alliance by signing a “covenant.”
Marcos said that it would be interesting to see Teodoro’s signature in the pact.
He added that he was convinced that at least two opposition candidates for president, Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. and former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada would sign the covenant.
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