MANILA -- After wooing Northern Luzon and Metro Manila in the past two weeks, Lakas Kampi presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro went back to Davao City Tuesday.
Teodoro, who has visited the province several times since the start of national campaign, attended presidential forum
at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) organized by Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Mindanao Business Council.
The forum, dubbed “Panaghisgut-Hisgut: The 2010 Mindanao Presidential Forum,” was attended by more than 3,000 people, more than half were students.
Also in attendance were representatives from various sectors in Mindanao, including the women, youth, civil society organizations and indigenous peoples.
Teodoro has faced questions which delved mainly on prevailing Mindanao issues such as the peace process and mining.
In one his answers, Teodoro stressed that Mindanao under his term will be further developed.
Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez, Lakas-Kampi-CMD national president, who witnessed the forum said that Teodoro "would gain a significant number of votes from the youth across the country given the response of the crowd here (Davao)."
“The way the crowd applauded Gibo shows that he has the strongest following and support among students not only in Davao but the whole country,” Dominguez related.
In an earlier survey conducted at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, it showed that Teodoro winning over the other presidential contenders if elections were held at that time.
Teodoro who is an alumnus of Dela Salle University, won in the Ateneo survey over Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III who was an alumnus of the school.
“He really won the hearts of the Ateneo community,” Dominguez said.
Last week, Teodoro with wife Tarlac 1st District Representative Nikki, visited La Salle despite ban of campaining in the university. Over 2,000 alumni of La Salle have defied the rules set by their alma mater to show their support to Teodoro.
Three major presidential bets snubbed the private-public sector organized Mindanao presidential debate.
Aquino, Manuel "Manny" Villar of the Nacionalista Party, and Joseph Estrada of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino were no-show at the forum.
“We’ve sent them the invitation about a month ago,” said event organizer lawyer Romeo Cabarde, Jr.
Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas, Eddie Villanueva and JC delos Reyes were present at the Ateneo forum.
All the presidential aspirants, except delos Reyes proceeded to another forum dubbed "Sukatan 2010" organized by Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
(Jill Beltran/Sunnex)