It was on May 11, 2009, during the ANC Leadership forum, when I realized that Defense Secretary Gilbert ” Gibo” Teodoro could be a good bet for the 2010 Presidential Election. He was straightforward and confident in answering all questions being thrown at him regarding all issues in all aspects of governance and shrug it off when being closely scrutinize because of his close association with the administration and Lakas-Kampi CMD matriarch President Gloria Arroyo. Yesterday, despite the snubbing  of the party’s  original members former Philippine President and Chairman Emeritus Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) along with former Speaker of the House and resigned President of Lakas CMD Jose de Venecia (JDV), Lakas-Kampi CMD has made it formal and declared Gibo as it’s standard bearer for the next year election. JDV even made a statement that the the merging of the two parties are still in questioned and that will give Gibo’s campaign a big problem. That should really be the least of Gibo’s worries because obviously, JDV is just making a scene and trying to ruin the party’s chosen one’s moment. The early proclamation will surely help the party lobby Gibo to harvest more supporters and voters. Noynoy Aquino, his cousin, and also running for the Presidential election, openly stated that Gibo would most probably be his formidable foe and will get most of the Ilocano’s votes because the Aquinos still has issues about the Hacienda Luisita land dispute.

Gilbert Cojuangco Teodoro has the most impressive resume. A Lear Jet rating in his Commercial Pilot’s License, attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from De La Salle University in 1984. In 1989, he completed his law studies at the University of the Philippines, where he was awarded the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence. In the same year,  he topped the Philippine Bar exams. He went to the Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts for his Master of Laws and completed it in 1997. He was a congressman representing the First District of Tarlac province from 1998 to 2007 and was eventually appointed Secretary of the Department of National Defense in August 2007 at the age of 43, the youngest person to ever hold the position. He has always been considered one of the two honest cabinet members of the Arroyo government.

Gibo is not a back slacking or a baby kissing kind of candidate, he is pretty much cerebral and like to take things done right away, which made him very much respected by his colleagues. If there is anything that will probably hinder Gibo from getting the sympathy of the masses, it is his being in the shadow of the administration, and his possible running mate DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno whom is not liked by a lot of people. Many even questions him, if he is elected, will he use his power to protect Arroyo from anomaly charges that allegedly she has committed during her term as the Chief Executive of our country? Former Senator Franklin Drilon is unsure that Gibo will even take note of E.O. 464. Though the administration’s party is a force to be reckon with, the machinery to make him a household name  is still yet to be tested. I suggest that Secretary Teodoro must roll his sleeves and really get down with the people of the C and D class because these people barely knows him and his capabilities. Among all presidentiables, he was the only one who is not afraid to voice out his support for charter change  which is one of the most controversial issues today and for that I admire him, he surely got the balls hehehe.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 464

ENSURING OBSERVANCE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS, ADHERENCE TO THE RULE ON EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS APPEARING IN LEGISLATIVE INQUIRIES IN AID OF LEGISLATION UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

added readings:

official website of Gilbert Teodoro

sources:

image: wowelcondeza.blogspot.com

bio:  Wikipedia on Gilbert Teodoro

affiliations:  Lakas-Kampi CMD website