Arroyo ‘passing torch’ to Teodoro

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers a message after the awarding ceremonies Friday (Nov. 6, 2009) of the 2009 Go Negosyo most inspiring Bataenios entrepreneurs and microentrepreneurs at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City, Bataan. (OPS/NIB-Photo)

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s plan to resign as national chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD is simply party tradition, “passing the torch” to the party’s standard bearer, a Palace official said Saturday.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s candidate for president, will be quitting his Cabinet post effective November 15, 2009.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Saturday that Arroyo’s resignation as national chairman is due to reasons of practicality and tradition.

“Among others, she has to pass the torch of leadership to (Defense) Secretary (Gilbert) Teodoro. Second, it is the tradition at Lakas that whoever will be standard bearer also becomes head of the party,” he said.

The Palace clarification came after Representative Carmelo Lazatin told a national newspaper Friday that Arroyo is quitting as Lakas head during a closed-door meeting held at the Fontana Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone. (more)