Supreme Court voids NP-NPC merger

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=573041&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) stopped the Nacionalista Party (NP) yesterday from acquiring the status of dominant minority party after the Supreme Court (SC) voided the NP’s coalition with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

In a unanimous decision, the SC agreed with the LP that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) committed “grave abuse of discretion” in disregarding its own deadline in approving the NP-NPC coalition.

“(The) NP-NPC’s petition for registration as a coalition is time-barred,” read the decision.

“Thus, Comelec was wrong in ordering the out-of-time registration of the NP-NPC coalition.

“In so ruling, we emphasize that the matter of party registration raises critical election concerns that should be handled with discretion commensurate with the importance of elections to our democratic system.

“The Comelec should be at its most strict in implementing and complying with the standards and procedures the Constitution and our laws impose.”

Gibo thanks TUCP, 18 groups for support

(The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=573038&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro thanked the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and 18 more party-list groups for endorsing his candidacy, saying their backing is not just support for him but a collective commitment to an agenda for genuine change and sustainable national development into the next decade.

Teodoro said TUCP and the other party-list groups deserve to be represented in Congress to ensure that all sectors, especially the marginalized ones, are adequately heard as the next government seeks a national consensus behind a roadmap for change and development.

These party-list groups’ endorsement came on the heels of an announcement Sunday night in Davao City by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, “self-appointed Son of God” and founder of the six million-strong Kingdom of Jesus Christ: The Name Above Every Name, that Teodoro should be the country’s next president.

Aside from TUCP, the party-list organizations that signed the manifesto were: AT (Aangat Tayo), ANAD (Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy), Senior Citizens, Ang Kasangga, BANAT (Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency), KAKUSA (Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala), ABAKADA-Guro, ARC (Alliance for Rural Concerns) and ABS (Arts, Business and Science Professionals).

19 party-list groups endorse Gibo

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=572433&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - A coalition of 19 party-list organizations including thousands of urban poor residents in Tondo, Manila declared their support for administration candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

Former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan also joined in support of Teodoro.

Their endorsements came after Davao-based Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ picked Teodoro on Sunday.

Quiboloy said his congregation chose Teodoro among the presidential candidates who have been trying to get his endorsement.

Alunan, on the other hand, said he picked Teodoro as his personal favorite.

“My presidential candidate is an underdog even in his own party (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), stabbed in the front, back and sides by treacherous partymates,” he said.

Alunan described Teodoro as “a non-traditional politician that prefers the high to the low road.”

Teodoro camp: Inquirer coverage fair, disclaims ad vs PDI

By TJ Burgonio (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100430-267248/Teodoro-camp-Inquirer-coverage-fair-disclaims-ad-vs-PDI

MANILA, Philippines—The camp of administration standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has distanced itself from a print ad questioning a Philippine Daily Inquirer story about Teodoro’s campaign rally in Davao City and the paper’s supposed bias for another candidate.

Mike Toledo, spokesperson for Teodoro, confirmed that a group of volunteers in Davao City had paid for the ad that came out in another broadsheet last Wednesday.

“The ads being brought out by volunteers are ads made on their own. We have nothing to do with the ads put out by volunteers,” Toledo said by phone the other night. But he said Teodoro’s media bureau respected the volunteers’ right to put out the advertisement.

Raymundo Roquero, secretary general of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, under whose banner Teodoro is running, also said the party had no hand in the ad and that the Inquirer had been fair in its coverage of Teodoro’s campaign.

Teodoro: Who needs surveys?

BY REGINA BENGCO (Malaya)
Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/04282010/news14.html


TOLEDO CITY, Cebu. – Administration presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday said he no longer pays attention to surveys among presidential candidates because they do not represent the real sentiment of the people.

Teodoro made the statement after the April 16-19 Social Weather Stations survey showed him still at number four in the presidential race although his score rose to 9 from 6 percent.

To underscore his feelings about surveys, he waved before the crowd gathered at the newly inaugurated Toledo Garden City Hall here, a special white shirt given by Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia.

The shirt, in green letters, read: "Hindi ako tinanong sa survey."

Teodoro gave the shirt to his aide for safekeeping.

He told the people of Toledo City that while his rivals make promises and attack each other, he talks of progress and inaugurates infrastructure like their new city hall.

Discipline Gibo first for abandoning post —Nograles

By Charlie V. Manalo (The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100428hed5.html

Insisting that he cannot support someone who wants to become president but cannot even run a political party properly, Speaker Prospero Nograles said the self-appointed officials of Lakas-Kampi-CMD are free to pursue any disciplinary action against him but they should also do the same for presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro for supporting local candidates who are running against their own party mates.

Teodoro has openly supported Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who in turn endorsed, not Teodoro but the Liberal Party presidential bet, Sen. Noynoy Aquino.

In the Center’s Pulso ng Dabaw latest survey, the Speaker firmed up his lead over his closest rival to 14 percent when some 44 percent or 1,056 respondents out of the 2,400 respondents who were polled said they will vote for Nograles if the elections are held within the period covered by the survey while 30 percent or 720 respondents said they will vote for Sara Duterte.

Nograles said that those who have been suggesting his ouster from the party cannot even speak for and in behalf of the party because they are holding party positions that were given out like candy and they do not carry the mandate of Lakas’ general membership.

Volunteers vow to deliver 2.5 million votes for Gibo in Metro Manila

By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570455&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - A community-based volunteer movement yesterday vowed to deliver some 2.5 million votes for administration presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro in Metro Manila.

The Palit Galing Movement said they have already recruited at least 250,000 residents in Metro Manila that will deliver the “swing vote” for Teodoro and the administration candidates.

“Metro Manila will be the swing vote in the May 10 presidential elections, we will deliver 2.5 million votes to administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro,” declared the group’s leader, Suzette Salazar.

Even without support from the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Salazar boasted they could deliver the votes for Teodoro from the grassroots.

“We are operating outside the party machinery and we just rely on the corps of volunteers who believe in the leadership qualities of Gibo Teodoro,” Salazar said.

'Poll watchers getting advance pay in GMA district'

By Ding Cervantes (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570182&publicationSubCategoryId=63

LUBAO, Pampanga , Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) re-electionist Gov. Eddie Panlilio urged yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate reports that his gubernatorial rival has been paying advance salaries ranging from P1,500 to P4,000 monthly to people who will act as poll watchers in the second district of Pampanga, where President Arroyo is the official congressional candidate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“I urge the Comelec in Pampanga and Central Luzon to check out reports that my fellow gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Lilia Pineda, and her campaigners at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD are doing a massive recruitment of poll watchers beyond what is allowed by election laws,” the Pampanga governor said in a statement yesterday.

Panlilio said that a “first batch of poll watchers have been designated as barangay coordinators” and have been required by the Pineda camp to recruit 10 poll watchers each.

“Election laws allow two poll watchers per party in every clustered precinct to work on alternate duty. When the precinct is small, the BEI can ask the poll watchers to leave. Only a representative of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting will be allowed,” he noted.

Why was Noynoy vs playing of ‘Hello, Garci’ tape?–NP

( Business Mirror)
Link: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24572:why-was-noynoy-vs-playing-of-hello-garci-tapenp&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

THE Nacionalista Party (NP) said Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and campaign officials of the LP played a key role in helping President Arroyo remain in power by voting against the playing of the “Hello, Garci” tape during the congressional investigation of alleged fraud in the 2004 elections.

NP spokesman and senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said voters should be reminded that Aquino, who promises new leadership that will be free of corruption, did not vote for the playing of the “Hello, Garci” tape, which was the key to enlighten the public in determining if Mrs. Arroyo cheated during the 2004 elections.

“It is highly suspicious why Sen. Noynoy Aquino did not vote to listen to the ‘Hello, Garci’ tape when he was House Deputy Speaker for Luzon,” said Remulla in a press briefing on Monday.

Lakas members leaving Gibo branded 'pseudo' supporters

BY JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA Reporter (The Manila Times )
Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/16126-lakas-members-leaving-gibo-branded-pseudo-supporters

DAVAO CITY: A word war between Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro and House Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles Jr. continued and chances of the two patching things up seemed remote.

Nograles fanned the flame on Monday by saying that members of the ruling party, Lakas-Kampi CMD, would soon leave Teodoro because they feel that he has a very slim chance of winning the race to Malacañang on May 10.

He made the statement a day after attending a political rally organized by his supporters here during which Teodoro in a speech described Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte-Zimmerman as good leaders. The Dutertes are political rivals of Nograles.

According to the lawmaker, Teodoro’s support for Duterte means nothing where Davao politics or the next month’s balloting is concerned.

Nograles warns: More Lakas members to quit on Teodoro

By Abigail Kwok (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20100426-266539/Nograles-warns-More-Lakas-members-to-quit-on-Teodoro

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — (UPDATE) House Speaker and city mayoral candidate Prospero Nograles on Monday warned that more members of the administration’s Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) will quit on the party’s standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro as Election Day nears.

“The old members of Lakas have left him and others will leave Gibo very, very soon because they feel he has a very slim chance to win,” Nograles said in a statement.

“He has not taken off,” Nograles said, referring to Teodoro’s struggle in the surveys. “And he quit on Lakas in midstream. We have no choice but to quit on him also.”

Nograles had earlier threatened to leave Lakas-Kampi-CMD as he claimed that the party was being run without consultation with its members.

Gibo endorses Duterte; rift with Nograles worsens

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570180&publicationSubCategoryId=63

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Any possible reconciliation between Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Speaker Prospero Nograles fell through when the House leader went ballistic against the former Defense secretary here.

In a strongly worded media statement yesterday, Nograles described Teodoro’s public recognition of his main rivals – city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Sarah Duterte – as an affront to the party leadership.

Speaking at a huge political rally at Rizal Park here Saturday, Teodoro described before the roaring crowd that the Dutertes were good leaders and good friends of his.

“He (Teodoro) quit on Lakas in midstream and we have no choice but to quit on him also,” said Nograles, referring to Teodoro’s sudden resignation as party chairman.

But lawyer Mike Toledo clarified that Teodoro’s acknowledgment of the Dutertes should not be seen as a form of endorsement.

Gibo backs Duterte in fight with Nograles

BY REGINA BENGCO (Malaya)
Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/04262010/news7.html

DAVAO CITY. –Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday night expressed support for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, even if the latter is backing his rival and second cousin Sen. Benigno Aquino III.

Teodoro, in a speech before a crowd of 2,000 at the Rizal Park here, said Duterte is a "real friend." He said he used to be Duterte’s lawyer in the 1990s.

"Gusto kong pasalamatan ang isang tunay na kaibigan. Bagama’t iba ang partido niya ay nirerespeto ko pa rin siya…Ang aking paghanga sa taong iyan ay hindi magbabago," he said, eliciting loud applause.

Duterte, who is running for vice mayor, and his daughter Sara, who is eyeing the mayoralty post, were not present during the campaign rally.

The administration candidate for mayor here, Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr., was also not around because of his feud with Teodoro.

Candidate Gloria hits campaign trail

By Tonette Orejas (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100426-266451/Candidate-Gloria-hits-campaign-trail

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—In her first sortie in Pampanga since the campaign period for local positions started on March 26, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sang Florante’s “Handog” on Saturday.

Pampanga gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda, a friend of the President’s, joined her in singing the familiar Filipino tune about gratitude at a gymnasium in Lubao, hometown of Ms Arroyo’s late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD campaign coordinators said the rally’s host, Rosve Henson, put Ms Arroyo on the spot during the program by asking her to sing.

The President granted the request of her “cabalen” (province mates) for a song. She embraced Pineda as they sang before some 3,000 people.

Ms Arroyo, however, was unfamiliar with the lyrics of Handog. Her voice was drowned out by Pineda’s in most parts of the song, but it was clearer in the refrain:

Lakas to give Gibo 15 million votes - lawmaker

By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=569027&publicationSubCategoryId=63
 

MANILA, Philippines - The nationwide political machinery of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD will deliver at least 15 million votes to party standard-bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said yesterday.

“It is our machinery that will carry Gibo to victory,” he told the Serye Café news forum in Quezon City.

Barzaga said of the country’s 1,500 town mayors, 1,200 are affiliated with Lakas-Kampi.

“If each of them delivers just 10,000 votes to Gibo, he will have 12 million votes from municipal mayors. We have 66 city mayors. If they can each deliver an additional 50,000, that’s more than three million more for a total of 15 million votes, enough to make Gibo our next president,” he said.

Lakas expects defectors from rival camps

By Jefferson Antiporda, Francis Earl A. Cueto and Rhadz B. Barcia(The Manila Times) 

Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/15782-lakas-expects-defectors-from-rival-camps

THINGS are looking up for former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro because stalwarts from other political parties are reportedly planning to jump ship and support the ruling party’s standard-bearer in the May 10 elections.

According to Reggie Velasco, the deputy secretary general of Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), more politicians from the rival parties have signified their intention to support Teodoro, whom they said is the most qualified among the candidates seeking to succeed President Gloria Arroyo.

Velasco said things are still under negotiations and that they could not disclose any details yet on the transfer of the politicians to the ruling party. What is sure, according to him, is that there are politicians who have sent feelers to defect to the camp of Teodoro.

Meanwhile, Rep. Amelita Villarosa of Occidental Mindoro, the Lakas-Kampi CMD chairman, has announced that Rep. George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental, who belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), would be supporting the bid of the former Defense secretary but that Arnaiz will stay with his current party.

Reveal favored bets, Lakas dares pollsters

By Aytch S. de la Cruz (The Daily Tribune) 

Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

Officials of the admi-nistration party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD, yesterday assailed the country’s major survey companies as it has come to their knowledge that these firms have themselves elicited the idea to the public that the battle for the presidency has been narrowed down to the two leading candidates, hence the frequent favorable results on the part of the candidates concerned.

Speaking before a Malacañang press

conference, ruling party’s secretary general, Raymond Roquero, challenged the owners of the survey firms in question to come out in the open and declare which candidates are they supporting and just how much do their companies receive from them.

“They (survey firms) should tell us who their benefactors are, how much do they receive from them to conduct these surveys and one presidential candidate even mentioned that it is time to refrain from publishing the results (in favor of them) because this gives the wrong impression to our people,” he said.

Gibo to pull off come from behind victory - Lakas

By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568673&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. would pull a “come from behind victory” with the resurgence of support for him three weeks before the May 10 elections, party officials said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, Ray Roquero, Lakas-Kampi secretary-general, said attacks against Teodoro, who continues to place fourth in surveys, have backfired.

“There is such a thing as a come from behind victory, and we can see the campaign being galvanized, the black propaganda being waged against us by the opposition seemed to have backfired and favored us,” he said.

“We have seen unheard-of groups now helping us in the provinces. All the sorties now of Gibo (Teodoro) are packed even if there are no artistas (stars) but they come and we are very happy about this development.”

Solon turns Teodoro green to Villar orange in a snap

By TJ Burgonio, Jhunnex Napallacan (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100421-265518/Solon-turns-Teodoro-green-to-Villar-orange-in-a-snap

MANILA, Philippines—He made it as easy as changing campaign baller IDs.

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona took his oath before Sen. Manuel Villar on Monday afternoon only hours after he attended a meeting of Lakas-Kampi-CMD lawmakers presenting a show of force for Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

“He was there with us to pledge support for Teodoro,” the ruling party’s secretary general Raymundo Roquero said over the phone, expressing disbelief at Madrona’s turnaround. “It’s his problem to explain himself to his constituents.”

Party officials were pleasantly surprised by the turnout of 130 lawmakers at the meeting despite short notice. But Madrona’s defection to Villar’s Nacionalista Party (NP) spoiled the mood.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stopped by the hastily called meeting at Dusit Thani Manila hotel at around 2 p.m., and exhorted party mates and allies to “stick together” for the administration standard-bearer.

Teodoro himself showed up at the meeting. But he left before Ms Arroyo arrived, saying he had to travel to Antipolo City for an earlier scheduled lunch with local officials.

No bribery attempt during Lakas meeting

BY JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ Reporter (The Manila Times )
Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/15703-no-bribery-attempt-during-lakas-meeting

Malacañang on Tuesday denied allegations that “money changed hands” during a recent meeting of lawmakers belonging to Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) that was personally attended by President Gloria Arroyo.

During a press briefing in Malacañang, Press Undersecretary for Broadcast Roger Peyuan dismissed alleged bribery attempts by the executive committee of Lakas-Kampi CMD on some 130 lawmakers who attended the meeting at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City (Metro Manila) on Monday.

“Wala kaming nalalaman na pagkakataon sa pagpupulong na iyon na tinalakay ang usapan sa pananalapi. At lalong hinding-hindi nagkabigayan sa pagpupulong na iyan [We don’t know anything about money being discussed during that meeting. And definitely, nothing was given out to anyone there],” Peyuan said.

“Marahil ang mga bagay na may kaugnayan sa mga pangangailangan nila at kakulangan ng kanilang pangkampaya at pag-ayuda ng partido ay bahagi lang ng kanilang mga tinatalakay. Pero walang usapang ganito sa loob ng 30-minute stay ni Pangulo [Perhaps things related to campaign needs and the support from the leadership for the party’s candidates were tackled. But nothing irregular happened during the President’s 30-minute stay at the meeting],” he added.