Gibo bent on winning the Presidency

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro has assured his fellow Filipinos that he would never waver in his determination to pursue his goal of winning this year's presidential race.

Gibo issued the statement as he squelched nasty rumors circulating during the Holy Week that he would announce this week his withdrawal from the presidential race.

At the same time, Gibo welcomed the recent appointment of Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa as the new chairperson of the ruling party, saying the party's swift move now ensures a highly capable official would have enough time and energy to attend to the needs of the local candidates of the ruling party, leaving him to focus on his presidential campaign.

"Rumors have been circulating that I will allegedly call for a press conference this Monday to announce my withdrawal from the Presidential race,” Gibo said.

"Such rumors are originating from sectors that will cast aside all notions of decency to satiate their salivation and hunger for power through the Presidency,” he said.

"Unfortunately,” he said, “such is commonplace in Philippine politics, which reinforces my determination to make a stand, to continue the fight.”

Added Gibo: "I will settle for no less than VICTORY, our people deserve no less. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!"

Villarosa, who represents Occidental Mindoro, was chosen chairperson of Lakas-Kampi-CMD in place of Gibo during an emergency meeting last Wednesday of the ruling party’s Executive Committee.

In that same executive committee meeting, erstwhile Lakas-Kampi-CMD secretary-general Francis Manglapus was chosen to be the new party president—vice Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez—while its deputy secretary-general Raymundo Roquero took over Manglapus’ place as secretary-general.

As the newly appointed Lakas-Kampi secretary general, Roquero called on all of its local leaders and members to close ranks and rally solidly in support of Gibo and the rest of the ruling party's national candidates.

These are the party’s vice-presidential bet Edu Manzano and senatorial candidates reelectionist Senators Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid, lawyer Raul Lambino, media personality Rey Langit, former justice secretary Silvestre Bello and Mayor Ramon Guico of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Roquero said last week’s meeting was convened following Gibo’s decision to step aside as party chairman so the former defense secretary can work full-time on his candidacy and let the party choose a new chairperson who can also devote his or her 100 percent attention to the needs of the party and its candidates who are running for elective positions in the May 10 balloting.

After Gibo’s resignation, Dominguez and Manglapus also gave up their party positions in order to give the incoming chairperson the free rein to pick the new officers.

Two-thirds of nearly 19,000 candidates running for local elective positions belong to the ruling party.

Former press secretary Mike Toledo had said that Gibo’s resignation was “a win-win situation because it will enable the former defense chief to devote full-time to his campaign and at the same allow the ruling party to pick a new chairperson who can attend to the needs of all its candidates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.”

Citing reports reaching the party’s headquarters along Edsa, Toledo said that governors belonging to Lakas-Kampi-CMD were fully supportive of Gibo’s decision to give up the chairmanship of the party.