Defense chief shrugs off reports dragging his name in 2010 Presidential polls

By Ronron
January 4, 2008

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. would rather not attend to talks about his possible candidacy for President in 2010, saying he has a job now to focus on as ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

While he admits that “once in a while, it passes your mind,” Teodoro said Friday the 2010 Presidential race issue should not overtake his “focus now on his job.”

“No, not at this point in time,” Teodoro said when reporters asked him if he is preparing for the 2010 Presidential polls.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol had earlier said that Teodoro, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando are among those being considered by the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party as potential Presidential bets in 2010.

“Of course, it is an honor being mentioned. And it is perhaps really hypocritical to say that you don’t consider it, you don’t think about it,” Teodoro said.

“But really, I sincerely feel, I believe that is still too early at this point in time to think about it. We have to focus on a lot of issues in the DND (Department of National Defense), in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), which need my full time and commitment,” he added.

The Secretary said he will just let time decide on his fate when 2010 comes. “Whatever the future holds for me, it will just happen.”

“Not at this time, but who knows in the future,” he added.

Teodoro said that for now, the President has entrusted her a mission in the department, which he intends to fulfill with “100 percent” of his time.

Should he pursue in 2010, however, his wife, Tarlac Congresswoman Monica Teodoro, said she will give him her full support.

“Of course, 100 percent. We’ve already come this far, so definitely,” she said when asked if she would support the Defense chief in a Presidential bid in 2010.

Teodoro was a three-termer Congressman of Tarlac before he was named Defense Secretary.

He holds a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University, Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines, and Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from the Dela Salle University./DMS