It is not impossible, or likely it is more accepted that Lakas Kampi CMD standard bearer Gibo Teodoro leads the pack in surveys. Not just plain polls, but precise and reliable ones.

Among the factions who have finally revealed the truth is the Campaigns and Image Group or CIG. Results in their well-organized survey shows that Gibo is on top of all presidential bets. CIG also exposed that Teodoro is the chosen candidate of various religious groups.

According to CIG managing director Abbey Canturias, talk is that Teodoro is the known candidate for president of gigantic religious flock such as the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association.

Gibo Teodoro evidently rose up to the top in its latest poll survey results from April 19 to 23, catching up with Sen. Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party, based on the overall age bracket of 18 and increasing groups indicating an approximate 51 million. The former chief of National Defense achieved 25 percent against the 23 percent gained by Manny Villar. The Liberal Party presidential bet, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, was third with 17 percent. The undecided is 21 percent though.

Moreover, the survey showed that among the young voters who root for him in 26 cities and 72 provinces, Gibo is strong in governance capability rating, particularly in leadership capability (15%), management experience (15%), integrity (10%), platform of government (10%) and transparency (10%) or a total of 50%.

Teodoro’s strength is among the 18 to 28 years old bracket demonstrating 25 million with about 33 percent supporting the former defense secretary, the CIG findings said.

Lanao Representative Abdullah Dimaporo presented a clear rationalization at a news conference in Tubod, Lanao del Norte last Thursday.

A “more reliable” survey than those of the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia shows Gilbert Teodoro’s rating escalating to 20 percent as the elections draws nearer, Dimaporo noted.

Dimaporo stated that in the survey carried out by the Department of the Interior and Local Governments, Teodoro had an matching score with Nacionalista Party candidate Manny Villar. On the other hand, he did not say when the survey was conducted.

“Teodoro’s rating has increased to 20 percent and Senator Benigno Aquino III’s rating sunk,” Dimaporo said, without supplying any figure for the Liberal Party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino.

He said this was the major reason Lakas officials were certain that Teodoro would win the elections.

“It is a more reliable survey than those conducted by private companies,” Dimaporo said.

He indicated that the DILG has offices all over the country and the result of its survey was more reflective of voters’ responses.

Dimaporo said that this was unlike the scope of Pulse Asia and SWS surveys, which were restricted to Metro Manila only. Dimaporo also stressed out that the DILG survey was accomplished to represent the choice of voters.

“The survey of both Pulse Asia and SWS are more about trending to make it appear that Teodoro is behind. This would convince voters to vote for candidates with higher rating,” Dimaporo said.

According to the leader of the Kilusan ng mga Aktwal na Naninirahan sa Estado ng Payatas (Kanepa), Daisy Bardoquillo and spokesperson of the newly-formed Green Army Brigades, the outcome of mock elections they have been conducting since March among informal settlers in Metro Manila, were in complete disparity to the survey results being released by the Social Weather Station (SWS) and the Pulse Asia.

“Our own surveys had Teodoro winning popular support among the urban poor. In six big events attended by leaders of urban poor groups held in March and early April, a total of 963 joined the mock polls conducted after the meetings,” Bardoquillo said. Joven Pajora, president of the Parola Binondo Coalition.

Likewise, according to GAB, Gibo was the top pick for President with 464 respondents voting for him.

He was trailed by Estrada who got 306 votes, Liberal Party presidential bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III placed third with 127 while Sen. Manuel Villar attained 33 votes. Evangelist Eddie Villanueva had 17 votes; Nicanor Perlas, seven; Sen. Richard Gordon, six and JC de los Reyes, five. Sen. Jamby Madrigal received only a single vote. On the other hand, Pajora said 56 were still undecided.

Bardoquillo and Pajora jointly said that the mock polls were carried out in urban poor districts in Baseco and Smokey Mountain, Manila; Sucat, Parañaque; Tonsuya, Malabon; Golden Ville Tower, San Jose del Monte, Navotas, Caloocan City and Pasay City.

Both said their group have decided to back Teodoro’s presidential bid because of their general disappointment over the negative campaigns carried out by other presidential aspirants.

“We will saturate Metro Manila to recruit more members for Green Army Brigades who will not just campaign but will also deliver a mass-based, solid vote for Gibo Teodoro,” Bordoquillo added.

“Jobs provide income and they provide for a better healthcare… that is why we have an agenda for peace and infrastructure and human capital development,” said the former National Defense secretary.

The Harvard-trained lawyer likewise urged the need to draw other financiers that would produce jobs for Filipinos to overturn the poverty occurrence in the Philippines. According to Gibo, investments in power generation should now be followed dynamically to deal with the crisis and avoid it from returning in the future because southern Philippines have been bugged by rotating brownouts recently.

“Power is indeed one of the biggest shortfalls of national development and high power cost is a disincentive to capital formation and investments in Mindanao. We’re not saying that we can get cheap power overnight, but what we’re saying is that the road to cheap power does not become cheaper as the years go on.  We have to start now to minimize cost.  If not, all capital investments will be more expensive,” Gibo said.

Furthermore, Teodoro emphasized in the discussion that new investments are important to ensure the soaring unemployment rate in the country.

Previously, Gibo said that unemployment “can be licked” on the job security concerns.

He planned a two-sided hit by granting urgent jobs and conditional cash transfers to unemployed Filipinos and farmers affected by natural disasters, in addition to good governance policies to attract investors to reconstruct the country’s economy.

“In the short term, we can provide emergency employment and conditional cash transfers, especially during this season of El Niño, not only for the jobless, but also for farmers who have been hard hit by floods during Ondoy last year, and now by drought,” he said

“Nagiging problema ang pagdagsa ng tao sa Kamaynilaan at sa Cavite dahil sa nakakakita sila ng mga oportunidad dito [The migration of people to Manila and Cavite to look for opportunities is starting to become a problem],” said the former defense secretary. “Paano solusyonan ito? Hindi dito sa Maynila o Cavite, kungdi kung saan sila nanggagaling. [Where do we find the solution for this? Not in Manila or Cavite, but in the provinces from where they came from].”

The former National Defense Secretary and Harvard-trained laywer stressed out that the relocation of people from the provinces to Metro Manila and greater Manila areas like Cavite, has been a major challenge when it comes to industrialization and progress.

“Pag di natin sila binigyan ng oportunidad sa kanilang probinsya, dadagsa sila dito at masasakal tayo sa dami ng tao. [If we don’t give them opportunities in provinces, throngs of them will come here, and Cavite and Metro Manila will be congested with too much people],” he said. “Pag ganu’n, ang pondo na dapat gamitin ng mayor para sa pag-seserbisyo sa tao mahahati lalo para sa mga taong galing sa ibang lugar [If that happens, the funds allocated for services will be divided further for the people coming from other provinces].”

Gibo advocated the increase of native opportunities in the provinces, from eco-tourism to agriculture. Opportunities will be generated, and Filipinos will no longer come across the call to try their luck in the big city by tapping the economic potential of the provinces. Gibo spoke on a improvised stage, before a swarm of supporters who jam-packed the “lucky” compound of Silang Mayor Areng Poblete.

That is why Albay Gov. Joey Salceda must explain to a thwarted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo his choice to defect to the camp of Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, according to Malacañang.

“I would imagine she would be disappointed by the decision of the governor. Of course she’d prefer to have him with her chosen successor and not against,” Gary Olivar, the President’s deputy spokesperson, said at a briefing Thursday.

Salceda, an economic adviser to the President, stunned Lakas Kampi when he flew out and acknowledged Noynoy’s proposal to serve as Liberal Party chair in the Region 5. The formal announcement of his defection is set for April 20, on his return from a medical check-up out of the country.

“It’s not my place to evaluate the degree of betrayal. He has to talk to the President and explain himself. I’m sure they have a lot to talk about,” Olivar later said.

On the other hand, Ms Arroyo was in Madrid Thursday on the last leg of her two-nation foreign trip. According to Olivar, the President, upon her return, will organize the national executive committee of Lakas-Kampi-CMD to unite party-mates furthermore behind administration standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

“She’s expected to attend the executive committee meeting. Perhaps on that occasion, she will take the opportunity, as you put it, to crack the whip and take a firmer hand,” he said.

Aquino could also be betrayed by his latest collaborator, Salceda, said Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar Perez. Salceda’s former supporters in the recently established National Caucus of Governors (NCG) have come out criticizing him for junking Teodoro.

“Noynoy, be careful of Governor Salceda. If he can do it to Gibo, he can do it to you,” Perez said by phone, addressing Aquino.

Speaker Prospero Nograles denied the said statement only a handful hours after announcing that he was considering resignation from the ruling Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats.

“Why will I resign? Why? Why should I? No, I am not transferring. I am the Lakas president,” Nograles told reporters covering his campaign sortie in Davao City last Monday. He said that as a senior member, he could not allow such thing.

According to reports, Nograles advised its standard-bearer, Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, to “fall into place” or party members may possibly shift to take on another presidential candidate, in a statement issued Tuesday that inquisitively dropped Kampi from the name of the ruling party.

“Enough is enough. Gibo must shape up—address the grievances of Lakas members, recover their confidence, motivate the party—or he ships out of the party,” said Nograles, who is seeking the mayor’s seat in Davao.

On the phone with the Inquirer in Iloilo City, Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier said “the coalition is imploding and more will be leaving.”

Javier agreed with Nograles’ previous proclamation that the party was in “frenzy,” with a lot of displeased members planning to withdraw their support. However, Gibo warned party stalwarts against using him as the root for abondoning.

“This is all I can say. Nobody should use me or the party as a reason to defect,” he told reporters before meeting with local supporters at Del Rio Hotel in Iloilo Tuesday.

Furthermore, Lakas Kampi standard bearer stated that he would run his own campaign “regardless of the defections.”

He said in the statement that Nograles issued previously on Monday, Lakas-Kampi-CMD members were “dizzy” over what had been taking place in the party.

“Even as a senior officer of the party, I hardly know what’s happening because they make decisions without the courtesy of even briefing us,” he said.

The former chief of Department of Defense, speaking at the city’s Araw ng Kagitingan celebration at the San Carlos Auditorium in San Carlos City, stressed out that local profit can amplify significantly if and when an outline for quick economic expansion, affixed on agriculture and eco-tourism, is executed on the island.

“Kulang pa din ang revenue na nakukuha sa agriculture at eco-tourism; kulang din ang mga negosyong tinatayo dito [The revenue culled from agriculture and eco-tourism is still lacking; the businesses established here are lacking, as well],” Gibo said.

“Kailangang palakasin natin ang agricultural capabilities at eco-tourism para mabigyan ng oportunidad ang lahat ng gustong mag-negosyo, mabibigyan ng trabaho ang mga tao, at gugulong ang kita sa ekonomiya [We need to strengthen the agricultural capabilities and the eco-tourism to give opportunities to everyone who want to establish a business, to give jobs to the people, and the revenues will flow to the economy],” he said

The Harvard-trained 1989 bar topnotcher at the same uncovered his “One Visayas” idea, where he envisions to construct bridges connecting the regions of the Visayas that are splitted by bodies of water.

“To improve local businesses, we must build bridges [connecting] Cebu, Iloilo, and the rest, under the ‘One Visayas’ concept,” he said. “With that, you have the regional power scope of the eco-tourism industry and agriculture.”

GIbo recognized the attendance of war veterans in the audience as well in his speech during the Araw ng Kagitingan festivities.

“Inalagaan ko sila ng dalawang taon at dalawang buwan as Secretary of National Defense. Ang ating AFP at kapulisan, kulang sa suporta, kulang sa tao at kulang sa equipment dahil kulang sa budget [As Secretary of National Defense, I took care of them for two years and two months. Our AFP and police lack support, human resources, and equipment because of the lack of budget],” he said. “Kapag napa-usbong natin ang ekonomiya, matutulungan natin sila. ‘Di masasayang ang pinaglalaban nila [If the economy surges ahead, we can help them. The things that they have been fighting for will not go to waste].”

According to Gibo, while politicians can deliberate as much as they want, there should be particular areas that they are in agreement to leave “untouched,” as well as foreign guidelines, where Filipinos are likely, and must, speak with one voice.

“I’ve been playing on like a broken record of the need for some principled political zone of peace, for lack of a better term, I think a zone of peace is a good thing to describe what I mean,” Gibo said in a media forum.

“My paradigm is simple: We as political leaders in the future, whoever wins, must agree on something.  We can fight all we want in the political arena, but certain things must be left untouched—basic education reform, healthcare, amelioration of farmers, infrastructure programs, your investment policies, most of all and this is not exclusive, your foreign policy,” Gibo explained.

Furthermore, according to the former Secretary of Defense, Filipinos should learn to respect the differences among themselves—in culture, language, and religion in order to build a progressive country.

“That can only be done if we erase our deep-seated biases and bigotry within us; realize that this society sometimes is bigoted one, a society prone to stereotyping. And then with objectivity and education, we may learn to respect each other as fellow citizens; then we can work together towards making a stronger country,” Gibo said.

Gibo has been talking to students in his tours of school campuses nationwide,  about his plans that under a Teodoro administration, he would exert a lot of effort to build such a political agreement to guarantee that enduring development programs, principally major infrastructure projects, are finished and executed beyond his management period.

On Maundy Thursday, Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro, the administration’s official candidate for president denied a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he had been advised by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia about First Gentleman Jose Miguel ‘Mike’ Arroyo’s assumed move to dump him in favor of Sen. Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP).

“I deny the report that Gov. Gwen Garcia allegedly told me that the First Gentleman called up members of her family to withdraw their support to me,” Teodoro said in a statement.

Furthermore, the former secretary of Defence asserted that the Garcias of Cebu are still behind him, opposing to a press release in the Inquirer.

“The support of the Garcia family and of One Cebu has always been solid and unconditional, it has never wavered,” the 1989 bar topnotcher said.

“I have been going to Cebu to attend One Cebu rallies to show our unflinching support for each other,” he added.

Teodoro also said that “Gov. Garcia never gave an interview except to reaffirm One Cebu’s support for me.”

Teodoro denied rumors that he was backing out from the race as well, and pleaded “to all not to believe in the divisive intrigues being spread around and instead focus on the serious issues affecting the future of our country.”

“I am not withdrawing. Elections generate rumors that are expected. I ask that we not listen to them and just focus on the task ahead,” he said.

These intrigues are expected to fade away in time, and Gibo’s presidential bid continues to move forward as the upcoming May 2010 elections draw nearer. With the surging popularity and the awareness of people about Gibo, his campaign will definitely hit beat these odds.