85 lawmakers, local officals endorse Teodoro as admin bet

(Updated 12:20 p.m.) Up to 85 congressmen and local officials allied with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration on Tuesday showed their support for Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as the Lakas-Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)-CMD standard bearer for the 2010 elections. Teodoro himself was present at the breakfast meeting in Quezon City of pro-administration lawmakers organized by party stalwart Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos" Magsaysay, who initiated the circulation of a manifesto of support for Teodoro. Magsaysay said around 90 congressmen and local officials attended the event. "We believe in his vision. We believe in his integrity. We know that he has the capacity and the ability to serve the nation," Magsaysay said of Teodoro. "As far as choosing the standard bearer is concerned, we should also be consulted by our party." Teodoro thanked the congressmen for their show of support. "I will always be grateful to each and every one of you," he said. "It starts here. Unity starts here," said Teodoro. Among those present at the event were House Speaker Prospero Nograles, executive vice-chair of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. But Nograles said his attendance does not necessarily mean he was endorsing Teodoro, and told reporters to wait for the party decision on its standard bearer. "We are just awaiting the final word of the party...kung sino yung napili ng party, my personal choice does not matter," he said. "I suppose whatever was signed here today will be submitted to the executive committee tomorrow," Nograles added, noting that 33 out of the executive committee's 64 members are congressmen. But in a separate statement, Nograles said Teodoro is "steps ahead" among the party's options in terms of "experience, capability, dependability, maturity and leadership." "Faced with a fractured opposition, Gibo is now emerging as a viable candidate. While the opposition is singing discordant tunes as to their presidential candidate, the administration remains very solid and its machinery remains very intact. This is a welcome and a most likely scenario," Nograles said. Also present was Presidential brother-in-law and Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo, who said he is supporting Teodoro's bid. But the congressman, who is the brother of First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, said his stance does not necessarily reflect that of the First Family. "Sa akin lang po ito (This is my view alone)," he told reporters. "As far as qualifications go, he's (Teodoro) qualified." Poor survey showing Teodoro is a former congressman of Tarlac. He is a second cousin of Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, himself a presidential aspirant in the 2010 polls from the Liberal Party. Both of them are nephews of business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., founder of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). Teodoro is the husband of Tarlac Rep. Monica "Nikki" Prieto-Teodoro. Teodoro is one of those reportedly being groomed to be the standard bearer of the administration coalition, along with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando, who is reportedly set to make an announcement later in the day. The two have not fared well in surveys on most preferred presidential aspirants, compared to Vice President Noli de Castro, who consistently is among the frontrunners in popularity surveys. Despite talks that he could be the administration’s bet, De Castro has yet to announce whether he would join the administration coalition. Last week, the Vice President denied reports that Malacañang had given until September 15 to decide whether or not he would run for president in next year’s national elections. [See: VP Noli denies deadline to decide on 2010 plans] "Wala po sa akin nagbibigay ng deadline. Ang deadline ko ay sa aking sarili lang (I have nobody’s deadline but mine)," De Castro said. Also last week, deputy presidential spokesman on economic affairs Gary Olivar said the administration standard bearer will likely be known on Wednesday, September 16. But party vice president Prospero Pichay Jr. said Lakas-Kampi-CMD might have to put off its scheduled announcement. [See: Lakas exec: Party unsure to name presidential bet by Sep 16] But Pichay, head of the Local Water Utilities Administration, assured that the standard bearer will definitely be a party-member. - with Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV