Teodoro favors review of VFA, but says no to renegotiation

MANILA, Philippines - Defense chief Gilbert Teodoro Jr. favors a re-examination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) but not a renegotiation.

“Yes to VFA re-examination but no to its re-negotiation,” Teodoro, described by critics as being pro-US, said.

Due to leave his post to pursue his presidential bid in next year’s election, Teodoro made known his official stand on the issue before the gathering of thousands of military reservists of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to celebrate the 30th National Reservist Week at Camp Aguinaldo.

He said that he is also looking forward to more joint military exercises with military forces from other countries, including Australia under the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA).

But while he favored sustained joint military exercises with other countries, Teodoro pointed out that no permanent military bases should be put up in the country by these foreign troops.

“This is against our laws,” he said in an earlier interview.

Meanwhile, Teodoro assured critics that he will step down from the defense post as soon as possible in order to prepare for next year’s presidential election.

“I would like it to happen as soon as possible in order for me to start my rounds. But I don’t want my job at the department to be compromised. We still have a lot of work to do,” he said, adding that an orderly transition must be followed.

He hinted that the transition could possibly happen on Oct. 21, when the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party names him as its presidential bet.

Teodoro said he is still waiting for the arrival of Mrs. Arroyo, who has the final say, before he steps down. The President is still abroad.

Three prospective replacements are now being eyed to succeed him. Sources identified them as Department of Public Works and Highway Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Off and running

This early, however, support for Teodoro’s nomination as the administration’s presidential candidate has snowballed, according to Ray Roquero, Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary general.

Roquero said resolutions from various local government units poured into the party headquarters, particularly by the league of provincial governors and the provincial boards of Sulu, Camiguin and Davao del Sur.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, on the other hand, has proposed to party members to give Teodoro a free hand in selecting his running mate based on consultations with party leaders.

Earlier, Teodoro said he is leaving the matter to the party leadership on who would be his running mate, but stressed that Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno is most welcome.

“We don’t have a problem,” the defense chief said when asked about his position on the administration party’s endorsement of Puno as his running mate.

This early though, a spokesman of Puno dismissed the claim of the tandem’s critics that there would be a “wholesale cheating” in May 2010 to ensure their victory.

Puno spokesman and DILG Assistant Secretary Brian Raymund Yamsuan said these accusations were “mere hysterics from delusional men.”

Battle of colors

Next year’s presidential elections, however, will not only be a battle of political debates and political platforms but also of colors.

Teodoro is going green; Sen. Manuel Villar will don his signature orange and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III his mother’s yellow.

“They say green is a lucky color for me because it is the color of freshness and peace,” Teodoro during an interview with dzRH radio.

Before setting his eye on the presidency, the 45-year-old defense chief and chair of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has been visiting disaster-stricken and conflict areas in a green shirt.

Zero graft

Teodoro gave a glimpse of what to expect from him if he is elected as the country’s next President.

He said zero tolerance on graft is the only answer to widespread corruption prevalent in the country today.

He added that graft cases alluded to government officials and private individuals should be left to the judicial system.

Teodoro clarified that once a sitting president dips his or her finger into the prosecution of supposed grafters, the action would be subjected to various interpretations.

He said if these things happen, it would create a cycle and any sitting president would be watching his back for charges after his or her terms end.

However, he maintained that he will never interfere with the graft and corruption accusations against President Arroyo and her immediate family, and will not get in the way if they are prosecuted in court based on evidence.

Freedom of choice

Teodoro also clarified his stand on the reproductive health controversy, saying he is against abortion but every individual should be given an informed choice on the issue. 

He maintained that there should be separation of Church and State particularly on issues concerning reproductive health and that the government should be allowed to impose its policies separate from the position of any religious group.

“I believe in freedom of informed choice by a person as to what he or she wants to do with his or her own body,” said Teodoro.

“Maybe contraception, under the Church doctrine, is wrong, but it should not be the policy of the state to adopt the view of any particular religion,” the Defense secretary said.

He pointed out that the state should be non-religious, non-sectarian and that it should give opportunities to all based on what they personally believe.

With his view, Teodoro has apparently taken the challenge from critics to take the electoral campaign to a higher level by talking about national issues.

“There are some portions of the existing reproductive health bill that are acceptable to me but the punitive provisions I want to review,” he said.

Teodoro said he has apprehensions over how his stand will affect his relations with the Catholic Church but he stands by his belief. – With Christina Mendez, Perseus Echeminada, Mike Frialde