Gibo: No campaign contributors in my government

Administration presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has vowed not to appoint any of his campaign contributors to his government, even as he admitted that he has not closely monitored the sources of the funds being given to him by his party. “Natural ‘yun [not appointing campaign contributors in government]... Kahit papaano, napruwebahan ko na, nagawa ko na rin sa Department of National Defense," Teodoro said in an interview for GMA News and Public Affairs’ Kandidato. Teodoro was the first presidential candidate to be featured in Kandidato, a show which adopts a job interview format for candidates for the country’s highest post in the May polls. (See: Gibo first guest on KANDIDATO, premiering tonight)
On the sources of campaign funds The former defense secretary however admitted he has “not closely paid attention" to the sources of his party’s funds because he has left the matter to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s finance committee. “’Yung finance committee ang nagha-handle niyan. Hindi ako diretso ang nagha-handle diyan (It’s the finance committee that handles that. I’m not directly the one handling that)," he said when asked about the source of over P400 million he has spent in television advertisements before the start of the campaign period. (See: Over P2B worth of pol ads before campaign period) Teodoro, who currently serves as Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s national chairman, also said that he had instructed the party’s finance committee not to accept money from suspicious sources, particularly those from the illegal numbers game, jueteng. “Kung merong bahid na ganun, ‘wag tanggapin ‘yun (If [the money] is tainted with that color, we won’t accept it)," he said in the interview. The administration party had been accused of accepting P300-million worth of jueteng money to fund the campaign of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s campaign during the 2004 presidential elections. (See: Jueteng lord gave P300M to GMA campaign, says Garci’s security officer) On Arroyo association Teodoro also maintained his presidency would never be similar to President Arroyo’s administration, saying that “he has a mind of his own." “May sarili akong pag-iisip. May sarili akong mga pananaw (I have a mind of my own. I have my own views)… I’d like to do things my way," he said. Teodoro likewise insisted that he would never turn his back on President Arroyo and on his party, even if his political affiliations could cost him the presidential race. “Magkakapartido ho kami at palagay ko, mamasamain pa nga ng ating mga kababayan kung makikita nila na para lang sa aking sariling popularidad, gaganyanin ko ang ating Pangulo," he said. (She and I belong to the same party, and I think our people will even take it against me if they see me treat our President that way just for the sake of my own popularity.) Continuity in Arroyo's infra, housing programs The administration party standard-bearer also said that he would continue some of Mrs. Arroyo’s projects, particularly those involving “long term infrastructure," if he becomes the country’s next president. “Ang dapat matutunan ng mga Pilipino kailangan may logical continuity in long term infrastructure hindi yung talagang reversal na pabago-bago," he said. (What we Filipinos should realize is the need for logical continuity in long-term infrastructure, and not these outright reversals and constant changes.) Teodoro added that he also wants to continue the Arroyo administration’s “affordable" housing programs. “Ituloy natin ang housing program ng gobyerno na affordable para sa mga pamilya," he said. (Let us continue the government’s housing program that’s affordable to all families.) In the same interview, Teodoro reiterated his platform of government, including his plans to improve the country’s health programs and educational systems, which he said would be some of his top priorities.—JV, GMANews.TV