'Welcome to the club,' Noynoy tells cousin Gibo

SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan - Welcome to the club. Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III had these words for his cousin, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr., amid reports that the administration party is secretly supporting the presidential bid of Senator Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party. In a press conference at the 8 Waves Waterpark and Hotel in Bulacan, Aquino said Teodoro was probably the latest in the long line of "victims" of the Arroyo administration. "Siguro panghuli lang po sa sa mga biktima ng kasalukyang administrasyon. Welcome to the club na lang po ang sasabihin ko sa kanya (Perhaps he is the latest among the victims of the current administration, all I can say to him is welcome to the club'," said Aquino, who has earlier accused the Arroyo administration of bias against LP members and candidates. Aquino refrained from giving unsolicited advice to his cousin, however, saying Teodoro must be "hurting" and that it was best to be sensitive at this time. Teodoro--a former defense secretary--probably knew the risks of aligning himself with President Arroyo early on so he has likely planned out what to do next, Aquino said. Aquino's mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino, is the cousin of Teodoro's mother Mercedes Cojuangco. Teodoro, who quit his post as Lakas-Kampi-CMD chairman to focus on his presidential campaign, earlier squashed rumors that he is backing out of the presidential race. He also denied reports that he resigned from his party post because the Arroyos are secretly backing Villar's presidential bid. [See: Gibo denies he is quitting presidential race] Villar's camp also strongly denied reports tagging him as the secret candidate of the administration, calling the rumors "baseless and malicious." [See: NP, Villar deny Mike Arroyo link after Lakas defections] Palace and Lakas-Kampi-CMD officials maintained that despite the resignation of Teodoro and other party officials, President Arroyo--who sits as Lakas-Kampi-CMD president emeritus--remains confident that the party is strong and solid. But House Speaker Prospero Nograles, a staunch Arroyo ally and a member of Lakas-Kampi-CMD's national advisory board, implied that local Lakas-Kampi candidates are restive partly due to changes in the party's leadership. In a text message to reporters, Nograles said local candidates want to support national candidates "who won't bring them down in a closely-contested local fight." "If the locals are secure winners already because they have none or token opposition only, then they can take all the risks whoever their national candidates are. But I know politically they all move differently when their own local fights are close or they get dragged down by national candidates, they won't risk too much," Nograles said. "Many local party mates expect too much from the party and they are confused why so many events are happening nationally which they are ignorant about and party keeps on switching the personalities of the leadership," he said. "Results are that nobody appears to be responsible for the locals." Meanwhile, LP senatorial candidate detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim said Teodoro should just cut all ties with the Arroyo administration. “If Gibo wants to be treated as a candidate that is neither a ‘dummy candidate’ nor someone shackled to the administration, he should immediately declare independence and run on his accord," Lim said in a statement. Senator Manuel Roxas II, Aquino's running mate, said in the same press conference that it was up to the NP to prove that Villar is not allied with the administration. Manifesto of support In a related development, Mrs. Arroyo has directed the leadership of the ruling coalition Lakas-Kampi-CMD to resolve its problems, including the reported defections of its members and the lack of campaign funds. Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, who replaced Teodoro as party chair, said Mrs. Arroyo asked her to ensure that the rumored problems are resolved. "Ayusin ninyo iyong partido, gawin ang kailangang gawin…Take care of it," Villarosa quoted the President as saying. She was interviewed Monday in Lubao, Pampanga where Mrs. Arroyo celebrated her 63rd birthday. She said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national executive committee will release a manifesto of support for the administration’s presidential bet, and reiterated that the party solidly supports Teodoro. “The mere fact na lahat kaming mga ally ng Presidente are working very hard for Gibo is an indication of the support of the President," she said. Presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo also denied that his parents have stopped supporting Teodoro. “It’s not true. Our family has gone through so many false innuendos so I don’t see anything new. You see all our mayors, our barangay captains? They’re wearing green right?… Ganoon siguro talaga ang buhay. I’m sure these will all stop after 2010," Arroyo said. Mikey said he and his brother, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria “Dato" Arroyo, are hosting Teodoro’s campaign sorties in their bailiwicks. Teodoro will be in Camarines Sur on Tuesday and in Pampanga on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Teodoro dismissed text messages that reportedly claim he will quit the 2010 presidential derby. "Walang iba[ng kandidato ang Lakas]," Teodoro told GMA News' 24 Oras when asked if he is still Lakas-Kampi's standard bearer. He also downplayed the alleged defection of their party members as "black propaganda." "Yung mga naglilipatan, hindi totoo yun. Part ng black propaganda yun," he said. Villarosa claimed that Teodoro’s political foes are trying to destroy their party’s campaign machinery and force him to withdraw from the race. “I think the target is really Gibo because they’re trying to break him. They’re trying to make him withdraw. He will not withdraw. He will proceed. He will continue with his candidacy," she said. - with a report from Aie Balagtas See/YA, GMANews.TV