Teodoro-Legarda a ‘superstar tandem’ in 2010 - Zubiri

A possible teamup of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Senator Loren Legarda in next year’s elections will be a “superstar tandem," a ranking official of the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD said on Thursday. “I personally think it is a superstar tandem," said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri even as he denied that there are formal talks to convince Legarda to be Teodoro’s running-mate in the 2010 elections. Legarda had earlier said she will remain with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), but Zubiri, during the weekly forum at the Senate, said she is “more than welcome" to join the administration. Incidentally, Teodoro was a former NPC member before he transfered to the administration party. Teodoro is a nephew of tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., who founded the NPC when he sought the presidency during the 1992 elections. Still welcome Despite Legarda's earlier announcement, Zubiri maintained that she is still welcome to join the ruling party. "Loren has her principle. Sabi niya ayaw niya sumama sa (she said she doesn’t want to join the) administration coalition. We respect her but we want her to know that she is more than welcome by many of our colleagues in the administration party," he said. Zubiri, however, said a group of governors has been pushing for a Teodoro-Legarda tandem. He did not elaborate. Legarda will announce her "advocacy and plan" Friday afternoon at Luneta Park in Manila. She had earlier claimed that she is being wooed by five presidential aspirants to be their running mate. Sources said Teodoro has sent an emissary to Legarda, a claim that Teodoro's camp has yet to confirm or deny. Gibo resignation next month? Among other personalities being floated to be Teodoro’s running mate are Batangas Governor Vilma Santos and Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno. Zubiri said the administration party would pick its official candidate during its national convention on November 12, with Teodoro expected to resign as head of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council before that date. “He should be resigning probably by the first week of November," Zubiri said, adding that Teodoro is just “wrapping up" his duties as DND and NDCC chief. The NDCC is at the forefront of government efforts in the wake of disastrous cyclones "Ondoy" and "Pepeng" and is leading the preparations for upcoming typhoon "Ramil." In the same news forum, Zubiri admitted existing rifts among Lakas-Kampi members at the local level but denied it would lead to a number of them transferring to other political parties. “We are all united at the national level but that is not the case at the local level," he said. - GMANews.TV