Teodoro best hope for Mindanao - Mangudadatu

MANILA, Philippines - Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu backs the reform program of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. as the best way to turn Mindanao into an economic powerhouse.

“I believe that Secretary Teodoro is the most effective and most competent candidate for president who will bring the best program of reform to Mindanao,” he said.

He’s a party man whose support for Teodoro has not been tainted or diminished, Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu is Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidate for governor in Maguindanao.

At Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said President Arroyo is not expected to join Teodoro’s campaign sorties because she will be busy with her own activities.

“We believe that former Secretary Teodoro is capable of carrying the flag of the administration party and to lead its campaign starting next week on his own,” he said in Filipino.

Olivar said Mrs. Arroyo’s plans for the campaign, which starts on Tuesday, would not change.

Mrs. Arroyo would be very busy with her own responsibilities, including going around the country as part of her legacy tour, he added.

“We know the President is very busy with her own schedule, which includes weekends, so she does not have to add this to her schedule.”

Teodoro sees sustainable peace as key to tapping the region’s full potential in agriculture and food production.

“We cannot have peace and progress with armed groups still holding out,” he said.

“The national government under Teodoro will not compromise its sovereignty and will work to secure a government monopoly of force in Mindanao.”

Teodoro also visited Dasmariñas City in Cavite and met with local officials as well as students of the De La Salle University in separate forums yesterday.

Having 307,000 voters, Dasmariñas City has the largest voting population in Cavite, which has over 1.5 million voters.

Teodoro was supposed to have a face-off with former President Joseph Estrada and Sen. Richard Gordon at the university. Estrada did not appear, while Gordon came in late after Teodoro had left the school.

Mrs. Arroyo started going around the country this week to promote the cyber corridors spanning Central Luzon, the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.

President Arroyo was expected to campaign for Teodoro considering that she is the titular head of the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

However, Malacañang officials made it clear early on that Mrs. Arroyo was distancing herself from Teodoro during the presidential campaign.   – Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy