Showing posts with label Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

RP should strengthen foreign ties, says Gibo

Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro and Lakas-Kampi-CMD Provincial Chairman and re-electionist Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan answer questions from journalists. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

MANILA - The next administration should focus not only on internal concerns but also on strengthening the Philippines’ ties with other countries to guarantee national security, spur economic growth and protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers worldwide, Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro said.

At the same time, Gibo said Filipinos should speak with one voice before the global community, especially when it comes to fulfilling its international commitments, to protect its reputation overseas and build investor confidence in the domestic economy.

“Filipinos should speak with one voice,” he said in a recent media forum. “There must be no crack. Our reputation as a country that is ready, willing and able to stand up to its commitments made fairly, freely, must be proven because there is a sad question mark on that in the world scene. And that is also one factor why investments, perhaps, have not come.”.

Gibo said Philippine foreign relations was one topic “sorely missed” in the discussions during forums and debates among presidential candidates in this year’s elections, even though it is a key pillar in developing our economy and even in improving the quality of our human capital.

“One of the canons of Philippine diplomacy, Philippine foreign policy, is that we rely on our good and principled relations with other countries for our national security, national economic security, and thirdly, the welfare of Filipinos abroad,” Gibo said.

He said that to develop Filipino skills and brainpower, the country should learn to interact globally and open itself “not merely to investments but to influences worldwide.”

Gibo said that if elected President, he would continue strengthening the Philippines’ ties with its traditional allies such as the United States, Australia and Japan, while developing bilateral and trade relations with the Middle East, the European Community and South America.

The Philippines must also continue to build its partnerships with China, which is a major trade partner and potentially the largest market for Philippine exports, Gibo said.

Moreover, China is also a key element in maintaining economic growth and preserving peace and stability in East Asia, he added.

China, he said, also presents a large market for the country’s tourism sector and is a potential partner in investments on power and energy,
In the first six months of a Teodoro presidency, Gibo said that due to pressing domestic concerns, he would prefer to stay in the country rather than travel overseas, save for attending the upcoming Asean Summit in Vietnam in October and the APEC Summit in in Japan in November.

A former Defense chief, Gibo has huge public support and governors and mayors are campaigning for him to ensure his victory and that of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidates for the May 10 general elections.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Lakas solons will support admin standard bearer in 2010 polls, says House Speaker

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles said that Cebu Representative Antonio Cuenco may have been speaking only for himself in relation to his statement that a majority of Lakas congressmen are inclined to support Senator Benigno Aquino III as he stressed that the selection of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as the administration's standard bearer was precisely based on the recommendation and endorsement of the overwhelming majority of administration congressmen.

“I don't think that there is any basis for such assessment because the Lakas leadership made its own survey with respect to their choice for a presidential candidate and their choice is Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. A great majority of our members are highly principled and I don't think that their choice of Gibo was plainly based on what Congressman Cueco describes as pork barrel considerations,” Nograles said, referring to the Defense chief.

Nograles said that as Speaker and Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice-chairman, he is in constant consultations with congressmen belonging to the majority bloc and he has not sensed any indication that they are rooting for Aquino.

“As Speaker I always talk to as many congressmen as I can everyday and that sentiment is prevailing only in the militant party lists and the liberal party stalwarts identified with Senator Frank Drilon. They have following am sure but the NPC have more and definitely Lakas-Kampi have the numbers. Representative Cuenco has been with the yellow movement since 1985 and maybe that's his emotional sentiment. Am sure the other Cebu congressmen do not feel like he does,” Nograles said.

When final reckoning comes, Nograles said that administration congressmen will toe the administration line and support the party's standard bearer.

“The Majority of congressmen and women will probably toe the administration line and we think that Gibo, . given the time and the right public exposure, should be able to shoot up by end of next month's October surveys. Villar and Chiz have their own solid following also,” Nograles said.

Nograles' position was echoed by other administration congressmen who likewise questioned the accuracy of Cuenco's alleged informal survey.

Lakas Representative Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City said that as far as he is concerned, including those belonging to the Northern Alliance bloc, Teodoro is the perfect choice as the administration's presidential bet.

“I don't think the survey is accurate at all. I was never asked and I believe that even those in the Northern Alliance will support Gibo,” Domogan said.

Representative Rodolfo Valencia (Lakas, Oriental Mindoro) also said:” I cannot believe the informal survey. Gibo Teodoro is the most qualified to be President. Am sure majority of Congressmen will support him.”

Representative Marcelino Teodoro (Lakas, Marikina City) also refuted Cuenco's claim and described it as a “misleading statement” and mere “speculation.”

“That is a misleading statement. I for one,as part of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD,knows that the ideals of the party and its long term vision to a more transparent and productive country is its strength. The informal survey by
Representative Cuenco can be discounted as mere speculation and may prove to be unsubstantiated,” he said.

“His personal survey should not cause distress to his fellow representatives who have been blatantly dragged into his personal dilemma. Aquino's surge is fleeting and rides only with the Aquino euphoria. 'Winnability' in the polls is not a guaranteed victory,but loyalty to a formidable party ideology and the sole advocacy to lead the country towards the betterment and welfare of Filipinos is the winning formula in the 2010 elections,” Teodoro added.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Davao City's Lakas-Kampi-CMD is all ready for 2010 polls

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD political party has completed its nominees for next year’s local and national elections.

Lawyer Karlo Nograles, son and chief of staff of House Speaker Prospero Nograles, said the coalition’s local chapter has “slowly but surely” worked its way to tip-top shape and will be “ready and fully-equipped” in the May elections.

He said as the party is poised to convene next week to pick its presidential candidate, the Davao City chapter of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD has already come up with its nominees so that the party could field a full electoral slate in every district of the country.

“From Bankerohan to Lasang and Marilog, and from Agdao to Paquibato and Toril, Lakas in Davao City has covered the bases,” the young Nograles said. “That is the advantage of Lakas; we are the biggest and most organized political party.”

Lakas has been conducting surveys, both internal to the party and through reputable polling outfits, to guide the selection process of would-be candidates.

Speaker Nograles was the former national president of Lakas before it merged with Kampi. The elder Nograles now sits as vice chairman to President Gloria Arroyo in the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD.


“We are happy with the outcome of the surveys, particularly for major positions in Davao City,” the lawyer said.

The young Nograles, who is said to be eyeing a congressional seat in the 1st District, said the coalition is not worried about its chances both in the local and national levels come 2010.

He said Lakas is proud of its performance in Davao, virtually changing the face of city in terms of infrastructure development. He said he and his father who is called “Team Nograles” in Davao City because of their drive to deliver social services and other pro-poor programs from medical and health care, to livelihood and education scholarships..