MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and himself would make a “very good tandem” in the May 2010 elections.

“Kung iba-base lang sa paguugnayan namin sa ngayon, malakas na malakas na tambalan na yun ano, at makakabuti para sa bansa dahil yung ekspiryensiya naming dalawa at paguugnayan ay maganda [If we base it on our working relationship now, it is a very strong partnership, our experience, our cooperation will be good for the country],” he said.

Teodoro and Puno oversaw security forces’ offensives against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Central Mindanao in 2008, and against the kidnappers of a Red Cross team in the southern province of Sulu earlier this year.

Teodoro is seeking the nomination of the administration coalition as its standard bearer. Puno, on the other hand, has declared his intention to run for vice president.

Puno is a stalwart of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which is set to merge with the bigger administration party, Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats.

Teodoro has been without a political party since bolting from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of his uncle, business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, earlier this year.

The defense chief said he was ready for the possibility that the administration coalition would not pick him as its standard bearer in 2010.

However, Teodoro kept mum on his next move should he fail to get the nomination.

“Kung merong selection process, maliwanag ang mga reglamento at sumali tayo dyan. Kung ‘di tayo napili, tanggapin natin [If there is a selection process, the rules are clear and I am part of it, if I am not chosen, I will accept that],” he told reporters.

Asked what he would do if the administration coalition picks Vice President Noli de Castro as its standard bearer, Teodoro said: “Titingnan ko kung ang mga options, malayo pa yan at mahirap magsalita ng tapos [I will look at the options. It’s still far away, it’s difficult to make a final statement].”

On Tuesday, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, secretary general of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats party, broached the possibility of a De Castro-Teodoro tandem in 2010, without saying who between the two would be the standard bearer.

Teodoro and De Castro are expected to attend ceremonies formalizing the merger between Lakas and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) on Thursday.

Katherine Evangelista