Cousin vs cousin in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - History will most likely repeat itself in the May 2010 presidential elections, where the interests and political influence of Cory versus Marcos in EDSA I will again come into play.

Now that Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro is emerging as the standard-bearer of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, it has become more apparent that he will be pitted against Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the opposition Liberal Party.

The two are second cousins, their mothers being first cousins, who carry the maiden names Corazon Cojuangco (for Noynoy) and Mercedes Cojuangco (for Gibo). Mercedes is the younger sister of business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.

Cojuangco is a known crony of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, who was overthrown and forced into exile by Mrs. Aquino in February 1986, three years after the death of her martyred husband Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a nemesis of Marcos.

Aquino and Teodoro, both from Tarlac, served as three-term congressmen from 1998-2007.

Teodoro admitted candidly to reporters the political differences their families have had over the years, but clarified that next year’s elections would definitely not drive a wedge between them, a sentiment Aquino himself had shared earlier.

“Our families were on opposite sides of the political fence,” Teodoro said. His uncle Danding Cojuangco, now chairman of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp., represented Marcos while Aquino’s father was the former dictator’s most vocal critic, particularly during the martial law years.

“Whatever the outcome of the elections, we will remain friends,” Teodoro told newsmen. It was the political differences of the Cojuangco and Aquino clans that drove their respective families away from each other.

But even if they are aspiring for the same position, Teodoro reiterated there will “never be a fight between me and Sen. Aquino,” refusing to call his second cousin by his nickname Noynoy.

While Teodoro was a member of the Kabataang Barangay, a political unit during the Marcos presidency, Aquino was with a “group fighting Marcos.”

“We are totally of different political and educational backgrounds. But we are both politically mature,” said Teodoro.

A Bar topnotcher, Teodoro obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines and Master of Laws from Harvard University.

Aquino was an economics graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University.   – With Ding Cervantes, Helen Flores