Lakas eyes sanction vs Zubiri for supporting Villar

The administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD is set to “take appropriate measures" against Bukidnon Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. for supporting a presidential candidate outside of the group. “The party will take the appropriate measures. [We have] disciplinary procedures and that is up to the executive committee," said Gilberto “Gibo" Teodoro Jr., Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s standard-bearer for the May 10 elections. In an ambush interview in Marikina where he was campaigning, Teodoro admitted that there are calls to give Zubiri the boot after photos of him raising the hand of Nacionalista Party (NP) bet Sen. Manny Villar Jr. were flashed on television stations Monday night. Teodoro said Zubiri’s decision did not actually surprise them despite the fact that the Bukidnon governor is an original Lakas-CMD member. “At the start, medyo nagwe-waiver na siya, so expected naman talaga iyun (He was hinting about it even at the start, so we kind of expected it)," he said. Zubiri’s children, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Bukidnon Rep. Jose Ma. Zubiri III, will remain with the party, Teodoro said, adding that he doesn’t doubt the loyalty of the Zubiri siblings. Despite the elder Zubiri’s defection, he said Lakas-Kampi-CMD will not conduct a loyalty check among its members. As if to downplay the defection, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD released a manifesto of support signed by 51 governors who have pledged to deliver the votes for Teodoro. The document was adopted last week. The governors, who came from various political parties, said after careful consideration of the qualifications of all presidential aspirants, they have agreed to campaign for Teodoro and “deliver to him the highest possible number of votes in our local areas." “[Teodoro] has articulated a well-thought out program and vision for the Filipino people – by far the best, and only presidential aspirant who has eschewed empty platitudes and rhetoric to provide a substantive, issue-specific program on how the country can move forward and be modernized through deep-rooted reforms and change within our democratic way of life," the manifesto added. - KBK, GMANews.TV