Teodoro alarmed over Gonzales' reported endorsement of Villar

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., expressed alarm yesterday over Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales’ reported endorsement of Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar to military officers.

“If the report is true that is alarming,” Teodoro said in Filipino in an ambush interview here at the old Sasa airport, adding that the defense secretary is running a government institution that should be neutral.

Gonzales, former National Security Adviser (NSA), replaced Teodoro as defense chief when the latter accepted the presidential nomination of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Teodoro said it is really disturbing if reports were true that Gonzales urged the officers to vote for Villar during the Army’s Battalion Commanders’ Symposium held this week at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Military officers questioned the other day Gonzales’ endorsement of Villar at the gathering of the Army’s battalion commanders.

 “O baka hindi nyo iboto si (You might not vote for) Villar because of these leftists (candidates of NP),” Gonzales was quoted to have told the troops.

He also assured the Army officers that Villar had given his word that two of his (Villar) leftist senatorial candidates, Satur Ocampo and Lisa Maza, would not win in the forthcoming May 10 elections.

Villar, an adopted member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1977, is the most unpopular bet among the military for including Ocampo and Maza into his senatorial slate.

Ocampo and Maza are perceived by the troops as supporters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).