Lambino: Opposition could have ousted Arroyo through parliament

By Norman Bordadora ( Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100420-265345/Lambino-Opposition-could-have-ousted-Arroyo-through-parliament

MANILA, Philippines -- Administration senatorial candidate and Charter change advocate Raul Lambino has indicated that President Macapagal-Arroyo might no longer be in power if the proposed shift to a parliamentary government pushed through a few years back.

Responding to a question by Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino bet JV Bautista in a senatorial debate organized by ABS-CBN on Sunday night, Lambino chided the opposition for continuing their accusations against the Chief Executive while failing in their bid to oust her and charge her before the courts.

“Let us give the Filipino a chance to give their leaders a greater amount of accountability that if they commit something wrong we can immediately have them jailed,” Lambino said.

“The members of the opposition have always criticized Gloria. Were you able to oust her? Were you able to throw her into jail? Until now, your accusations continue against Gloria,” he added.

Gibo supporters launch Multipliers Movement to generate votes

from The Philippine Star 

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=561065&publicationSubCategoryId=63
MANILA, Philippines - Supporters of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. launched yesterday a new movement for a people-based network to generate votes for their candidate.

Lead convenor Eli Quinto said the Gibo Multipliers Movement was formed to consolidate, coordinate and multiply individuals and groups supporting Teodoro.

“At the heart of the (movement) is the idea that a single person or group is connected to others who, in turn, have their own respective connections,” he said.

Speaking at the movement’s launch at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City, Quinto said they aim to increase the number of supporters to ensure his victory in the May 10 elections.

“When you add them all up, the reach of that one person or group would be much larger,” he said.

Quinto said although a person or group can only do so much, they can become multipliers by reaching out to other people they know.

“It’s all just a matter of bringing these people together so that they realize there are more who believe in the candidate they want to support, which is Secretary Teodoro,” he said.

Lakas may expel members supporting other bets—Teodoro

By Yolanda Sotelo (Inquirer Northern Luzon) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100324-260646/Lakas-may-expel-members-supporting-other-betsTeodoro

BINALONAN, Pangasinan, Philippines—Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said party members who back other presidential aspirants run the risk of enduring strict disciplinary actions or outright expulsion.

But he said the Lakas campaign had already forecast the eventual party-switching among its ranks before it launched his presidential bid.

"We have factored [into the campaign strategy] a certain amount of defection [that would take place]. That happens. You can't stop it. Rather than not accept [defections] as a reality, you have to be ready [if you want to proceed with an efficient campaign]," he said.

Teodoro toured this town on Wednesday, part of a Pangasinan sortie that coincided with the two-day provincial tour of his cousin, Senator Benigno Aquino III, standard-bearer of the Liberal Party.

On Sunday in Baguio City, Florencio Abad Jr., LP campaign manager, said his party had been documenting the activities of Lakas provincial candidates, who have openly campaigned for Senator Manuel Villar Jr., the Nacionalista Party standard-bearer.

Abad said LP has concluded that Villar may soon receive full backing from the Lakas-Kampi leadership, which would place Teodoro in an awkward position.

Arroyo allies in Cebu nix Teodoro for Villar Villar gains support of Garcias, 3 other solons

By Michael Lim Ubac, Jhunnex Napallacan (Inquirer Visayas) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100325-260685/Arroyo-allies-in-Cebu-nix-Teodoro-for-Villar

MANILA, Philippines—While Malacañang was not looking, Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar has quietly gained the support of the biggest political party and the most powerful political family in vote-rich Cebu, according to well-placed party sources.

Villar met with congressmen and local officials belonging to One Cebu and the Garcia family behind closed doors at Marco Polo Hotel in Cebu City on Wednesday.

Although details of the meeting were not disclosed to local journalists, Alvin Garcia, who is seeking to regain the city’s mayoral post, announced an alliance between his party, Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Progress for Cebu) or Kusug, and the NP in a press conference at the same hotel.

His position was different from that taken by his cousin, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia, who founded One Cebu and has expressed support for Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro.

The governor sealed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s victory in the 2004 elections, giving her a one-million vote margin over the late opposition candidate, Fernando Poe Jr. Cebu has 2,416,289 registered voters, according to the Commission on Elections.

The administration coalition Lakas-Kampi-CMD Wednesday night downplayed the report of One Cebu’s turnaround of support for Villar.

Gwendolyn’s call

Ex-colonel tagged in "Hello Garci" scandal a party-list nominee

By Kristine L. Alave (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100324-260572/Ex-colonel-tagged-in-Hello-Garci-scandal-a-party-list-nominee

MANILA, Philippines -- Military officials, including one colonel implicated in the Hello Garci scandal have been named nominees of some party-list groups, according to progressive group Bayan.

The Abante Tribung Makabansa (ATM) has former Army Colonel Allen A. Capuyan as its first nominee, Bayan said in a statement.

Capuyan was among those implicated by former Technical Sergeant Vidal Doble in the “Hello Garci” controversy, Bayan said. The 2005 scandal erupted when Doble presented to the public taped phone conversations between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a Comelec official (widely believed to be Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano) about her one-million vote lead in the 2004 presidential elections.

The tape also implicated high-ranking military officials and senior poll officials in the 2004 electoral fraud.

Mrs. Arroyo has apologized to the public for talking to the official but denied she asked him to cheat for her, claiming she just called to check on the status of her votes. She survived three impeachment complaints against her.

Gibo invades Fernando territory

from The Philippine Star

Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560689&publicationSubCategoryId=65

MANILA, Philippines - Former defense chief and Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro took his campaign sortie yesterday to Marikina City, the bailiwick of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, who bolted the administration party after Teodoro defeated him in the party’s presidential nomination late last year.

Teodoro, whose late grandfather is from Marikina, was welcomed by mayoralty bet Dr. Alfredo Cheng and other local candidates.

“He is the most competent and qualified among the candidates,” said Cheng during a mini-rally in Barangay Calumpang attended by Teodoro, senatorial candidate Rey Langit and Mark Lambino, who represented his father, senatorial candidate Raul Lambino.

Teodoro said all residential development in Marikina should be vertical in order to spare residents from floods. He said this should have been done before but this was not addressed by concerned government agencies, especially those involved in housing development.

The Fernandos have ruled the city for almost a decade and have focused their efforts into converting the city into a tourist attraction.

BREAKAWAY FROM LAKAS Teodoro on Zubiri defection: Expected

By TJ Burgonio, Christine Avendaño, Fe Zamora (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100324-260501/Teodoro-on-Zubiri-defection-Expected

MANILA, Philippines—Administration standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Tuesday expressed no surprise at Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri’s defection to the rival Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

“At the start he was already wavering so we expected that... he had been blowing hot and cold,” Teodoro told reporters in Calumpang, Marikina City, where he addressed a crowd of youth supporters.

Zubiri, Lakas chair for Bukidnon, 20 town mayors and two city mayors endorsed Villar for president after the latter spoke at the 12th Charter Day celebration of Malaybalay City on Monday.

Asked if this would result in his expulsion of Zubiri from the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Teodoro, the party chair, said “appropriate measures” would be taken.

“I believe there are calls for that (expulsion),” he said.

Teodoro, however, was confident of continuing support from Zubiri’s sons, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri and Bukidnon Rep. Jose Ma. Zubiri III, pointing out that they went a long way back in the House of Representatives.

“The father has his own mind, the children have their own minds,” Teodoro said.

Miguel Zubiri, Lakas’ vice president for Mindanao, Tuesday apologized to his party mates for his father’s defection.

He said he and his brother remained loyal to the party and would continue to support Teodoro’s presidential bid.

“I apologize to my party mates for what happened to our group in Bukidnon but, nevertheless, Rep. Candido Pancrudo, Rep. Joey Zubiri and myself stay committed to Gibo,” he said in a statement.

The younger Zubiri said he had “long and intense” arguments with his father about his decision to back Villar, “but in the end he does what he wants.”

“My father has his own mind. Everyone who knows him can attest to that,” he said.

“I am not my father’s keeper and in politics we very much differ,” he added.

And in order to prevent from being “misconstrued as playing it safe” or “dipping his oar in two rivers,” Zubiri said he would take a back seat from the campaign and “just concentrate on taking care of my wife who is about to give birth to our son in April.”

While Lakas may have lost the elder Zubiri, 51 governors belonging to the League of Provinces of the Philippines have declared their support for Teodoro, according to a press release from the party.

On Monday, courting voters in Manila’s Parola slum, Teodoro promised to continue President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s P500-financial subsidy to poor families if he wins.

“We will continue the Pantawid Gutom program, at isama na natin ang (and let’s include) livelihood,” Teodoro said at a rally at Parola’s Gate 54 compound.

Pink is out; MMDA going ‘Gibo’ green

By Niña Calleja (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100323-260311/Pink-is-out-MMDA-going-Gibo-green

MANILA, Philippines—“Green” and bear it, BF! Looks like Gibo’s color is taking over your formerly “rosy” turf.

Not only is the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) repainting various road structures from pink to green, but it is also putting up signs trumpeting its new choice of color.

Tarpaulins printed with slogans like “Green is Cool,” “Green Is Go,” Green Is Hope,” and “Green is Clean” would be mounted this week along major thoroughfares, especially along EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue), to formally launch the agency’s “Go Green Metro” program, MMDA Chair Oscar Inocentes said Monday.

“Green symbolizes environmental growth,” Inocentes said in a statement. “We would like the world to know that through the MMDA, Metro Manila is doing its share to conserve and protect our Earth, our environment.”

He sought the cooperation of the 17 Metro Manila mayors in promoting the agency’s “green ideology.”

Selling Gibo Teodoro in Manila’s markets

By Regina Bengco (Malaya)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/03232010/news3.html

"HUWAG kayong mahiya, kamayan ninyo (Don’t be shy, shake his hand)," aides of administration presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said encouragingly.

The subjects – the lady vendors of the Blumentritt market in Manila – stood beside their wares, arms stiff at their sides, hesitating as their curious eyes regarded the tall mestizo guy in a light green short-sleeved polo shirt surrounded by supporters in darker shades of green.

Teodoro crossed the pavement, and shook their hand, smiling reassuringly.

"He looks taller in person than in his commercial," one vendor said.

"Iyan sana ang pinakamagaling sa lahat, kaya lang naka-ano kay Gloria (Arroyo)," someone remarked.

Soon, Teodoro was on a roll, shaking hands, exchanging banter, and setting people at ease by speaking to them in Ilocano.

"Raul!" he called to his senatorial candidate, Raul Lambino who was also busy shaking hands and distributing campaign materials, "They are your province mates. From Pangasinan."

NO FREE PASS FOR PRE-CAMPAIGN ADS Top bets liable for breach of ethics; donors for taxes

By Malou Mangahas (Malaya) Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03232010/news4.html

THEY probably thought they got a free pass to flood television with political ads beyond the airtime and spending limits set in law, having run commercials before the 90-day campaign period could start last February 9.

But the top candidates for president and vice president, as well as those who donated and bankrolled their pre-campaign ads, had better think again, according to lawyers and officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

By the letter and spirit of anti-graft and tax laws, say the lawyers and tax officials, their pre-campaign period airing of political ads does not free the candidates and their donors of all liabilities.

By PCIJ’s calculations, the combined actual ad spending of six presidential candidates and four vice-presidential candidates from November 1, 2009 to February 8, 2010 comes up to P1.472 billion. By most standards, the amount is huge enough to compromise these candidates, most of whom are incumbent public officials.

The figure is also huge enough to shore up the tax collection drive of the BIR amid the country’s rising fiscal deficit -- if the candidates’ donors have paid taxes.

Just last week, BIR Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres said his agency has collected only P100 million from the five-percent withholding tax slapped on all political contributions and campaign expenditures of candidates during the campaign period.

Lakas-Kampi coalition plans decisive ‘Battle of the Bulge’

By Winston A. Marbella (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100322-260115/Lakas-Kampi-coalition-plans-decisive-Battle-of-the-Bulge

Like a stealthy army preparing to launch a major offensive, the ruling administration coalition Lakas-Kampi-CMD is moving heaven and earth at the grassroots to save the lagging presidential candidacy of former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
The question that perplexes many party leaders is: Considering that Teodoro is running behind, why move only now?

The ruling coalition, which enjoys a headlock on 70 percent of local government positions, is pinning its hopes on superior resources and widespread party machinery to swing the tide of battle.

Banking on these advantages, it plans to assert its superiority with carefully synchronized offensives timed at the start of the campaign for local positions on March 26.

The opening salvo of this make-or-break offensive will be new TV commercials targeting the youth on Monday.

Teodoro’s spokesperson, former Press Secretary Mike Toledo, said the commercials would be aired with frequencies rivaling those of the front-runners, Senators Benigno S. Aquino III of the Liberal Party and Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party. Between them, they have spent close to P2 billion, dominating the airwaves, according to the media firm AGB Nielsen.

Teodoro’s ads will zero in on the target segment that the coalition hopes will swing the tide of battle to his side, the youth ranging in age from 18 to 39, who constitute 52 percent of the 50 million voters registered, according to Toledo.

Gibo, Edu go to NPA-infested Mindoro

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)  

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560194&publicationSubCategoryId=63

SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines – Administration presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro and his team made their presence felt by campaigning in rebel-infested areas here.

Teodoro, along with vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano, led the entourage in defying threats by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in areas where just a few weeks ago 11 government troops were killed in an ambush staged by the rebel group.

The troops were waylaid when they were trying to prevent the NPA from implementing their permit to campaign on local candidates.

At the rally Teodoro said he would prioritize development programs for local government units if elected president.

He promised his leadership would determine the concerns of every community to effectively address their particular needs.

“The leader should be capable of understanding the needs of communities to effectively address their respective problems and then give the best solutions,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro pushes new consumption taxes

By Abigail L. Ho (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100320-259866/Teodoro-pushes-new-consumption-taxes

MANILA, Philippines—To curb the country's burgeoning budget deficit, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro says there is a need to rethink the existing tax structure and tax administration efforts.

“For the fiscal situation, we need to rethink tax administration and efficiency. Past efforts have been unsustainable. Through tax administration reforms, I think these problems can be addressed,'' he said.

He said new consumption taxes should be introduced and sin taxes increased. Personal and corporate income taxes, however, should no longer be hiked as these were already “competitive.''

In an earlier speech before members of the Makati Business Club, he noted that he “agreed in principle'' with the need to hike consumption taxes. Whatever new taxes would be slapped, however, would depend on the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and the upcoming elections on the country's economy.

Other presidential aspirants had different strategies to address the fiscal deficit.

Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy'' Aquino III said he would not impose any new taxes, while Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel Villar said it would be “irresponsible of me'' not to introduce new taxes.

Teodoro gives up on surveys

By TJ Burgonio (Philippine Daily Inquirer)  

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100320-259865/Teodoro-gives-up-on-surveys

MAMBURAO, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines—Administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro said Saturday he has stopped following his ratings in the surveys and is looking forward to the start of the local campaign on March 26.

"I don't pay attention to surveys anymore. Whether I've gone up or gone down, it's nothing to me. Our campaign is based on our party network and party strengths," said Teodoro, a consistent fourth-placer in the surveys.

Lakas Kampi CMD secretary general Francis Manglapus said they would focus on the party message, and "work with the local candidates to deliver the votes."

"Our feeling is that they can do it," he said by phone, pointing out that over 60 percent of local candidates are allied with the administration party.

Teodoro, his running mate Edu Manzano, and senatorial candidates Silvestre Bello III, Raul Lambino and Rey Langit barnstormed Mindoro on Saturday, less than a week before the March 26 kick-off of the local campaign period.

Vans full of supporters and Manila-based reporters waited for Teodoro at the Mamburao airport for a motorcade around the dusty town off Mindoro Strait Saturday morning, but he did not arrive on time.

Due to a delay in the flight to Mamburao, Teodoro and Bello flew first to Isabela in northern Luzon. He and Bello later flew to San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro.

Teodoro, Manzano, Senate bets in rare group sortie

By TJ Burgonio (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100320-259774/Teodoro-Manzano-Senate-bets-in-rare-group-sortie

MANILA, Philippines—Administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro, his running mate Edu Manzano, and senatorial candidates Silvestre Bello III and Raul Lambino Friday appeared together in a rare group sortie in Valenzuela City.

Teodoro, Bello and Lambino each gave a pep talk during an uproarious student forum at the Our Lady of Fatima University campus in Valenzuela City. Manzano caught up with them at the tail-end at the forum.

“We’re halfway there already. I guess this is a sign that we’re here for the long haul. We’ve committed to the party; we’ve committed to the people. Gibo and and I said we’ll finish this election,” Manzano later said in an interview as he waved at the crowd from the back of a truck during a motorcade from the campus to the city interiors.

Grumblings about funds

Their rare appearance together came on the heels of grumblings in Manzano’s camp and among the senatorial candidates about Lakas Kampi-CMD funds not trickling down to their level.

Since the Feb. 9 kick-off of the campaign, Teodoro, Manzano and the six senatorial candidates have mostly barnstormed Metro Manila and the countryside on their own.

Teodoro, Manzano and some of the senatorial candidates also barnstormed Butuan City in Agusan del Norte last Thursday, and had dinner with President Macapagal-Arroyo at the birthday celebration of Rep. Jose Aquino II.

Lambino conceded that campaigning alone has its advantages, like covering more areas to campaign for the presidential team, but has a big downside to it: the perception that “we’re disunited.”

Teodoro said the public would see more of them campaigning together once the campaign period for local officials kicks off March 26, but said the senatorial candidates would be campaigning in two teams to cover more ground.

Not awash in funds

“Our schedules jibed today. But when local campaign kicks in, we will be campaigning together. The senators will still have two teams,” he told reporters after the forum.

But the issue of funds will not simply go away.

“There is fund, but that’s a precious and limited resource. We’re not awash in funds. We should use this judiciously,” said Teodoro, who claimed he had received funds from the party.

The forum at the Fatima University was generally boisterous, with female students shrieking at the sight of TV personality Jolo Revilla and jostling for the chance to give him a buss, and more so, at Manzano who came in last at around 11:30 a.m.

The young Revilla campaigned for his father, reelectionist Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and so did Patrick Guico for his father, Mayor Ramon Guico of Binalonan, Pangasinan. The party’s two other senatorial candidates are Sen. Lito Lapid and broadcaster Rey Langit.

Foreign businessmen give Gibo high marks

by JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA Reporter (The Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/13654-foreign-businessmen-give-gibo-high-marks

Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, the candidate for president of the administration party in the May 10 elections, would make a good president, according to foreign business executives in the country.

Peter Wallace, the chief executive officer of Wallace Business Forum QRT, on Thursday led the expatriates in citing Teodoro’s sound appreciation of the business setting and climate in the Philippines.

Besides, Wallace said, they find “reassuring” the platform of government of the standard-bearer of Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).

“He [Teodoro] obviously understands the issues very well,” he added.

Teodoro, a former Defense secretary, during a forum held at Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City (Metro Manila), talked about his platform and his plans to safeguard the nation and its business community if he is voted as successor to President Gloria Arroyo.

The forum tackled corruption in the government, threats to internal security and proposals on economic development, among other issues.

“I don’t think there was any thing that he said that we would disagree [with],” Wallace said. He gave Teodoro a grade of 7 or 8 out of 10 for the presidential candidate’s grasp of the concerns of business movers, both local and foreign.

Invest in Pinoy brainpower to stem brain drain - Gibo

by Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558977&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Administration presidential bet Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro said investing in the Filipino brainpower and in physical infrastructure could check the country’s “brain drain” of medical professionals, especially in far-flung areas.

Teodoro discussed the wrong assignments of healthcare providers in the country during Presidential Forum on Health held at The Medical City in Mandaluyong last Tuesday night, which was televised live on ANC.

Doctors said 80 percent of Filipinos, most of them in the countryside, are not receiving proper medical attention because 50 percent of doctors are in urban centers if not working abroad.

“This is not solely a healthcare problem, it is also a developmental problem,” said Teodoro, Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer. “If we also invest in education and infrastructure, this can be resolved.”

Lack of infrastructure in remote areas is one of the apparent reasons why proper health attention is not distributed effectively in the country.

Thus, there is a need to enhance the country’s infrastructure system by requiring the integration and convergence of various transport networks, he said.

Aside from the need to improve the country’s infrastructure, he also emphasized the importance of improving the quality of education in the country.

Future scientists pinili si Gibo

mula sa Pilipino Star Ngayon
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558620&publicationSubCategoryId=92

MANILA, Philippines - Kahit hindi pa mga botante ang mga future scientists ng bansa na pawang estudyante ng Philippine Science High School, pinili nila si Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. bilang susunod na pangulo sa isinagawa nilang mock elections.

Hindi man sila botante sa ngayon, alam ng mga estudyante ng PSHS na dapat paghandaan ang kanilang magiging kinabukasan kaya dapat paghandaang mabuti at piliin ang susunod na lider ng bansa.

Sa mock elections na nilahukan ng may 300 estudyante, nakakuha si Teodoro ng 54 percent habang si Liberal Party presidential bet Noynoy Aquino ay nakakuha ng 19 percent kasunod si Sen. Richard Gordon na may 12 percent.

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nanalo si Teodoro sa mock elections na isinagawa sa mga paaralan sa bansa kung saan maging ang alma mater ni Noynoy na Ateneo de Manila University ay ang una ang nanalo. Maging sa isinagawang independent survey ng Campaigns and Images sa koordinasyon ng Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting ay big­lang umangat si Teodoro sa 2nd spot kung saan ay tinalo na niya si Noynoy. (Rudy Andal)

Makinarya, kabataan partida ni Gibo, rating raratsada pa

mula sa Pilipino Star Ngayon

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558475&publicationSubCategoryId=92

MANILA, Philippines - Inihayag ngayon ng isang kilalang pollster na malamang lalo pang umangat ang rating ni Lakas-Kampi presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro.

Bunga ito ng lumala­kas na suporta ng mga kabataan at ang malakas na makinaryang pampulitika, ayon sa analysis ng isang independent research firm.

Sinabi ng Campaigns & Image Group na ni­lampasan na ngayon ni Teodoro sa rating si Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, na dating nasa ikalawang pwesto, sa kanilang pinakahuling pambansang survey sa presidentiables.

Sinabi ng CIG na, base sa ginawa nitong survey sa pakikipagtulungan sa Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, ang rating ni Teodoro ay umakyat na mula sa single-digit noong nakaraang Disyembre patungong 24% ngayong Marso dahil sa political machinery ng administration party at sa pagsisikap niyang maki­pag-ugnayan nang husto sa mga pulitiko sa local level na naghahangad ng re-election sa iba’t ibang posisyon.

Binigyang-pansin din nito na ang kampanya ni Teodoro ay umaasa sa malawak na network ng mga kabataang volunteer sa mga kolehiyo at unibersidad na naglagay sa kanya sa kaisipan ng mga botanteng nasa 18-28 at 29-39 age bracket.

Gibo’s aces

by Fel V. Maragay (Manila Standard)

Link:http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideOpinion.htm?f=2010/march/15/felmaragay.isx&d=2010/march/15

In presidential debates sponsored by various groups, former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro always shines because of his wide range of knowledge about statecraft and the economy. He has a flair for presenting his plans and policies with clarity and conviction. He is clearly an intellectual. He is always rated as either number one or number two by the panel of moderators or jurors who assess the performance of the presidential wannabes in public forums.

After every presidential debate, public esteem and admiration for Teodoro inch several notches higher. On the other hand, those who fumble or make fools of themselves in the rhetorical exchange with their rivals have a cloud of doubt hanging over their heads. Do they actually have the ability to lead the nation? As a consequence, these pretenders to the presidential throne beg off from and skip forums where they will share center stage with their adversaries. Such show of poor sportsmanship and defeatist attitude could not but frustrate the electorate.

Despite having shown his mettle as a leader of high caliber in these verbal exercises, a lot of people remain cynical about Teodoro’s chances of winning the presidential derby. This is primarily because he has registered unimpressive ratings in surveys conducted by better known research outfits.

Such frustrating survey trend is enough to make candidates of lesser stuff throw in the towel half-way through the bruising electoral battle. But not Teodoro. On the contrary, not once has he shown any sign of vacillation about his presidential goal. Instead, he always exudes zeal, consistency and will to win and give his opponents a good fight.

“I will not stop until I am number one,” the Lakas-Kampi-CMD boldly declared before newsmen a few days ago.