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Gibo, Recto exchange praises in Bukidnon festival


MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon—It seems like the Kaamulan Festival, which means “to gather" in the local language here, has brought together two politicians of two different colors: one in green, another in yellow. Administration party presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Liberal Party (LP) senatorial bet Ralph Recto on Wednesday crossed party lines and traded praises in a local festival that marked the province’s 93rd founding anniversary. Teodoro, Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s standard-bearer, lauded Recto for his implementation of tax measures during the LP senatorial aspirant’s term as director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). “Dapat pasalamatan natin siya dahil nanindigan siya bagamat mahirap. Gumawa siya ng mga batas na kung di dahil sa mga batas na iyan, naapektuhan tayo ng global economic crisis tulad ng ibang bansa," Teodoro said of Recto in his keynote speech during the event. Recto, meanwhile, praised Teodoro’s work as secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND), and even called him “a jewel in the Cabinet." Kababata ko ito at nakatrabaho ko sa gabinete ni Presidente Arroyo. He was a true jewel in the Cabinet," he said. Although Recto praised Teodoro, the LP senatorial bet also made reference to his party’s standard-bearer, Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III, in the same speech. “Ako’y naniniwala na ang unang dapat gawin ng pangulo ay labanan ang korapsyon, dahil kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap," he said, in reference to Aquino’s campaign slogan. Both Teodoro and Recto were members of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2001. They also served in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet from 2008 to 2009. Bukidnon gov’s close friends Teodoro and Recto were the only politicians seeking elective posts in the upcoming May polls invited by Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr. in Wednesday’s festivities, according to the local executive’s spokesperson. Cesar Apao, Zubiri’s spokesperson, said Recto was invited because he is the governor’s “close friend," while Teodoro is a party mate and a long-time family friend. Asked if Zubiri is backing Teodoro’s presidential bid in the May polls, Apao answered, “You’ve read it right. The fact that Secretary Teodoro was invited as the guest speaker in Bukidnon’s 93rd founding anniversary, that already says a lot." Zubiri was seen raising Teodoro’s hands in front of the crowd during the festival’s closing program. Teodoro, for his part, openly gave a “return token" to Zubiri after he was handed a token of appreciation during the program. Apao said, however, that although most of Bukidnon’s local executives are members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, he cannot tell whether they are solid in supporting Teodoro’s candidacy. “I cannot speak for them. I cannot determine how their loyalties will go come election time," he said. Bukidnon is the fifth most vote-rich province in Mindanao, with 727,750 registered voters based on latest Comelec records. President Arroyo won in the province by a slim margin over closest rival, actor Fernando Poe Jr., during the 2004 presidential elections. Villar ‘more popular’ Although Teodoro enjoys the support of Bukidnon’s leadership, members of the province’s local media believe that Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manuel Villar Jr. is the “more popular" province in their area. “Sa totoo, mas kilala si Villar dito dahil na rin siguro sa kanyang TV advertisements," said Evie Tipon of the local newspaper Gold Star Daily. Fe Diaz-Oliva of the Central Mindanao Newswatch, a weekly publication in the area, said Villar’s early entry in the presidential race might have given the NP standard-bearer the advantage when it comes to popularity in the province. “Malayo pa ang election, naset-up na niya ang kanyang programa at lahat ng gusto niyang gawin. For me, nakatulong talaga ‘yun," she told GMANews.TV in a separate interview.—JV, GMANews.TV
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