Gibo to take campaign to schools, public markets

In a bid to improve his popularity ratings and capture the youth vote, administration party standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is set to take his campaign to schools and universities in the coming months, a party official said Thursday. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who heads the Lakas-Kampi National Advisory Board, said Teodoro would make the rounds in graduation rites starting March to introduce himself more to the public, especially to the youth. “Former secretary Teodoro is really moving around all over the Philippines… Punung-puno ang schedule (niya) lalong lalo na ngayong approaching the graduation period in March," he told reporters on Thursday. Ermita also said that despite the Teodoro’s low ratings in the survey, he and his running mate, actor Edu Manzano, continue to gain popularity, especially among those who belong to classes A (very rich) and B (rich). Teodoro’s spokesperson, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, meanwhile said that their campaign team is making sure that the administration party’s presidential bet becomes known to the masses too. He said Teodoro is also set to visit public markets to make him more visible to those belonging to the middle and lower classes. Teodoro remains trailing behind other presidential aspirants in nationwide surveys. In a December 2009 preference survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), Teodoro came in fourth among other presidential candidates, getting only 5 percent approval from the respondents. Razon backs Teodoro Despite the low ratings, Teodoro’s camp maintained that the administration bet still enjoys strong support from local government officials and candidates for local posts in 2010. Among the local candidates backing Teodoro is former Philippine National Police chief and Manila mayoralty candidate Avelino Razon Jr., who expressed his support for the administration party bet on Thursday. Razon, who is running under Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said he chose to support Teodoro because of his credentials and competence. “Teodoro’s credentials are very good, to say the least. He has all the competence, leadership and skills required to be the country’s next president," he said in a statement Thursday. Razon said that while he is required to back NPC vice-presidential bet Sen. Loren Legarda, he has the liberty to decide which presidential candidate to support in the coming polls. – Nikka Corsino and Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV