MANILA, Philippines – Outgoing Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. bid farewell to the staff of the Department of National Defense (DND) weeks before he officially steps down from office in preparation for his 2010 presidential bid.

In his speech during the launching of the DND’s Citizen’s Charter which was created to reduce bureaucracy and red tape in the institution, Teodoro took the opportunity to informally bid farewell and he also thanked the staff of the Defense department.

“I’ll take this opportunity in advance to thank each and every one of you in the DND proper, of course I will do so formally when I turn over, but then again it’s been good working with each and everyone of you and I will treasure the experience wherever I may be and forever in my life,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro was appointed Defense Chief in 2007 replacing National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales who was the officer-in-charge of the DND.

In a chance interview after the launching, Teodoro, who has been endorsed by the Lakas-Kampi CMD party as its preferred presidential candidate, added that he will resign by the “end of second week or early third week” of November.

He added that his resignation has been overdue due to the recent calamities brought by typhoons “Ondoy” (international name: Ketsana) and “Pepeng” (international name: Parma).

“Matagal na akong nagpapaalam kaso dating ng dating ‘yung bagyo e (I’ve planned this long ago but typhoons kept coming),” Teodoro said.

In his final weeks in office, Teodoro said he will finalize his remaining obligations such as the Reconstruction Commission which is a joint project of public and private sectors to rehabilitate the areas gravely affected by the recent typhoons.

Likewise, Teodoro said that he will be meeting with the National Disaster Coordinating Council, the Senate and House counterparts to set the groundwork on the proposed P12 billion calamity fund.

“Kung papano ma-set yung groundwork para maliwanag ang anong mga sector ang kailangang puntahan nito katulad ng agrikultura dahil malaki ang damage dun and the like (We’ll set the groundwork to identify sectors like agriculture that were damaged),” Teodoro said when asked what will be discussed regarding the proposed calamity budget.

Meanwhile, when asked if he has shortlisted names of who will possibly replace him as Defense Chief, Teodoro kept mum saying only that it is “highly confidential” between him and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. I will not even answer those questions that are solely between me and the president,” Teodoro said.