738 MAYORS SIGN MANIFESTO ENDORSING GIBO FOR PRESIDENT
MANILA, OCTOBER 29, 2009 (STAR) Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. claimed another significant endorsement for his presidential bid yesterday, clinching the support of more than 738 mayors on the final day of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines’ (LMP) general assembly – its last before next year’s elections – at the Manila Hotel.The mayors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, in a signed manifesto, described Teodoro, the 45-year-old 1989 bar topnotcher, as “the best man from among all the presidential candidates to lead our country in the coming years.”
The mayors said they recognized and are convinced that Teodoro is the right choice because of his “brilliance, unquestioned honesty and integrity, excellent executive ability and experience, his profound grasp of the myriad and complex economic, political, social, environmental, governance and security issues facing our country and the global community.”
“We categorically declare our unequivocal support to the presidential candidacy of Secretary Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. and call on all our countrymen to elect him and to work for his campaign as we hereby commit ourselves to do so and ensure his victory in the May 10, 2010 election,” read the manifesto.
The endorsement gives Teodoro, the presumptive presidential candidate of Lakas-Kampi CMD, a formidable second pillar of support from the grassroots-based local government units (LGUs).
Last month, 49 governors captivated by his intelligence, firm grasp of national issues, and unblemished leadership acclaimed him as their presidential candidate during the assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.
The mayors come from three major parties, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP). The list did not include the mayors of Pampanga, who were expected to endorse Teodoro, since they left for San Fernando in the morning to join President Arroyo on her visit to the province.
The endorsement is deemed “significant” because it puts emphasis on the “attributes of leadership and intellectual capacity of the man who will succeed the President next year,” mayors attending the LMP assembly observed.
The municipal mayors look at next year’s election as a “make-or-break moment for the future of our country.” The election “must bring to the nation’s leadership the brightest, the worthiest, the most honorable and the ablest from among the presidential candidates,” they said.
They said that in manifesting their support for Teodoro and confidence in his leadership to tackle the three tasks they enumerated, they were “intimately bound with the hopes, fears and struggles of our common people.”
The mayors enumerated three “Herculean” tasks the next president must grapple with.
One is the “reengineering and strengthening of the fundamental social, political and economic institutions which have been seriously eroded through the years.”
In his address to the LMP general assembly Monday, Teodoro spoke of his vision to modernize the structure of government through Charter amendments by creating a unicameral parliament under either a presidential or a parliamentary system. He also said he favored the lifting of certain economic restrictions to improve the overall investment climate and make the country competitive.
Another major task is a comprehensive government response to the “menace of climate change and environmental degradation that imperil the country and the world.” The mayors said the country faces years of “massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of major infrastructure” devastated by the recent typhoons in large areas of the Luzon.
A third is the “war against secessionists and terrorists in Mindanao.”
‘Humbling and very encouraging’
Teodoro described as humbling and very encouraging the manifesto of support from the municipal mayors for his presidential bid in next year’s elections.
“It uplifts my spirit. I am thankful to them,” said Teodoro after speaking to key leaders of the Mandaluyong Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday.
Teodoro said that with the backing of the local executives, he would work harder to be worthy of this league’s support.
Meanwhile, other presidential aspirants snubbed the invitation to attend the forum at the LMP assembly.
The absence of other “presidentiables” gave due advantage to Teodoro who was the only one present at the event.
LMP president and Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. said they had invited former President Joseph Estrada, Senators Manny Villar, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Guico said Estrada, Villar and Escudero vowed to attend the event but Noynoy begged off since he was one of the principal sponsors in the wedding of Sen. Mar Roxas and broadcaster Korina Sanchez.
During the question and answer portion, Teodoro was grilled on his plans for LGUs if he gets elected.
Teodoro said he is in favor of the proposal to increase the share of LGUs of the Internal Revenue Allotment but subject to conditions.
He also noted that mayors must have primary supervision of the local police since mayors are responsible for maintaining peace and order.
On the length of terms for mayors, Teodoro suggested that mayors should serve at least for four to five years, saying a three-year term is too short to serve constituents.
Palace yet to announce next DND chief
Meanwhile, Malacañang has yet to announce the next defense chief, barely three weeks before Teodoro resigns from his post.
Teodoro already announced his intention to resign in two or three weeks to pursue his presidential bid.
A defense observer who requested anonymity said Malacañang’s silence on Teodoro’s replacement could be an indication that President Arroyo could be planning to take over the top defense post in an acting capacity.
Years ago, when then Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz resigned due to differences with administration moves to amend the Constitution, the President took over the top defense post in an acting capacity.
Earlier, there were reports that among those being considered to replace Teodoro are former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., National Security Adviser (NSA) Norberto Gonzales and former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief and now Presidential Management Staff (PMS) staff, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Except for Esperon, both Ebdane and Gonzales have been appointed to the top defense post. Ebdane was appointed by the President to replace her, while Gonzales took over from Ebdane after he was ordered back by the President to his old post as DPWH secretary.
However, Esperon and Ebdane are both seeking elective posts in May 2010 elections – Esperon as congressman in his home province of Pangasinan and Ebdane as president. This leaves Gonzales as the sole contender for the defense post.
“But we are no longer hearing the name of Gonzales,” a source said, adding that Mrs. Arroyo can always fill in the transition. – Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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