The Philippine Online Chronicles

Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia announced that Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. would be the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party's bid for president in the 2010 elections.

“As of yesterday morning, he is our party’s presidential standard-bearer,” said Garcia, during Teodoro's visit to Bataan.

An official announcement from the party is expected by Thursday.

According to Lakas-Kampi president Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, “Our party is big, strong and tough and we will go by the [selection] process.”

He emphasized that they were unfazed by recent poll results showing a public preference for the opposition.

“You will be surprised that when we have a standard-bearer, there are people coming in from other parties to our party,” he said. “Just because they know they’re strong in surveys, that’s enough to carry them (so) they take things for granted, they belittle the others. That should not happen.”

On Tuesday morning, around 40 Lakas-Kampi members met with Teodoro in Manila to possibly discuss his running for President.

The other possible standard-bearers are Metro Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando, who is “confident” he will gain the nomination, and Vice President Noli de Castro, who has yet to officially join the party despite invitations from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.