Cebu guv defends Teodoro

CEBU -- Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has defended Gilbert Teodoro’s decision to quit his post as chairman of administration party Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats, saying it is not a sign of weakness.

Teodoro resigned from his post as chairman on Tuesday "to focus on campaigning for the presidency.” Early Wednesday, Saranggani Governor Miguel Dominguez and Francis Manglapus also left their respective posts as president and secretary general, respectively, to give the incoming chairman a free hand in choosing the new officials of the party.

Garcia said Teodoro’s move means he wants to work harder in the campaign.

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“The primary importance is on his candidacy and we appreciate that. He must work for himself because we are supporting him. We fully respect his decision,” she said.

Garcia said the resignation does not mean that Teodoro admits he is lagging behind and needs to work harder than the other presidential aspirants.

“It was a clear demonstration of forthrightness, ability to assess the situation and the will to make a decision. There are no gray areas,” she added.

Teodoro met with Garcia, mayors, vice mayors and heads of the Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu last Tuesday to personally thank them for their continued support.

New leaders

Lakas-Kampi on Wednesday night installed new leaders to fill the vacuum left by Teodoro and two other key officials.

Late Wednesday, Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa of Mindoro Occidental became the new party chairman while Manglapus, who resigned early Wednesday as secretary-general, was elected president.

Raymundo Roquero, deputy secretary general, was installed as the party’s secretary general.

Roquero said the election of the new set of officers took place at the makeshift office of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Saint Luke’s Medical Center Global Center in Taguig City with 25 officials and members in attendance.

The President is temporarily holding office in the hospital to attend to her ailing husband. First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was rushed to the hospital last week due to an ailment related to his heart surgery in 2007.

The election of officers took place after Mrs. Arroyo called an emergency meeting of the Lakas-Kampi CMD executive committee.

Happy

Roquero said the President was happy that the leadership issue of the party was immediately resolved.

"This only shows that the party remains intact and united," said Roquero, quoting the President as saying.

He said the move of the party "quashed speculations that it is about to disintegrate."

"We don’t want to create a hemorrhage. The party has always been intact and united," he said.

With the leadership issue now settled, Roquero said the President directed members of the party to go full swing in promoting Teodoro to their constituents in the remaining days of the campaign before the May 10 elections.

Around two-thirds of nearly 19,000 candidates running for local elective positions belong to the ruling party.

Instruction

Roquero said the President also instructed those running unopposed to devote more time campaigning for Teodoro, running-mate Eduardo "Edu" Manzano and the six senatorial candidates of the party.

The Lakas-Kampi senatorial lineup includes Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid, Raul Lambino, Silvestre Bello III, Rey Langit and Ramon Guico Jr.

“Lakas-Kampi-CMD remains strong and vibrantly united as a party. Altogether, in mutual support of and cooperation with one another, we will secure victory for all our candidates, national and local, as we remain to be the country’s dominant majority party," Roquero said. (PNA/Sunnex)