The Philippine Online Chronicles

Prior to becoming Secretary of National Defense and Head of the NDCC, Gilberto Teodoro was, among many things, a member of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Tarlac, was President of the Kabataang Barangay for Tarlac, President of the Kabataang Barangay for Central Luzon, all while obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Financial Institutions at La Salle. He became Congressman of Tarlac, Assistant Majority Leader of the 11th Congress, head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition House members, and a member of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

He took up law at the University of the Philippines, garnered the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence, topped the bar and worked for EP Mendoza Law firm. After his Master of Laws in Harvard, he was admitted to the New York bar. After becoming a licensed commercial pilot and a Colonel in the Philippine Air Force Reserve and two major typhoons later, Secretary Gilbert Teodoro became a household name as the head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council. With credentials like this, and the recent turn of events, indeed, why not vote for him as President?

The foremost of my misgivings about Gilbert Teodoro, prior to the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng all boils down to fears that he is already politically indebted to Danding and this administration, being administration’s presidential bet. Like many, I do not perceive him as independent. Unfortunately, his track record thus far does not inspire belief in otherwise. He after all supported then and the last-ditch efforts of Speaker Jose de Venecia and his allies at the House to amend the 1987 Constitution a few months into the 2007 mid-term elections, the last being the more serious consideration since prior to these, he pretty much an uncontroversial congressman. As the administration’s bet it is unlikely that he will bite the hand that feeds, so to speak. As a voter, I am not keen on candidates who are beholden to interests other than what’s best for the country.

Post-Ondoy, how Teodoro managed the then ongoing and the disaster the typhoons left behind, was least to say, unimpressive. Sadly, the government was unprepared for the worst. Teodoro was caught in the middle of this and took flack for spending more time in closed door meetings than, say, saving drowning people and mobilizing government units faster, as the rest of the nation stood helpless witness, hamstrung as he was by logistical constraints.

I don’t know about you, but there is something about Gilbert Teodoro as a presidential candidate that leaves a sour taste in the mouth, figuratively speaking. If he wasn’t running for President he would probably be a shoo-in as Senator. His resume and political experience is impressive, no doubt. I think he still has to do a lot more than infomercials and typhoons to get the people to vote for him. Foremost is to prove his independence and give us his clear platform of governance. Perhaps he is not yet ripe for this post. Perhaps, 2010 is not yet his time.

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