MANILA, Philippines--Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro was mum on who would be his running mate when pressed by municipal mayors at a forum Monday.

Capas Tarlac Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan said Teodoro refused to talk about his vice president, not even hinting whether it was a female or male.

?We`re anxious to know his running mate because our constituents are asking the same,? said Catacutan, a godson of Teodoro.

"Even Secretary Hermogenes Esperon was silent on the topic," he said.

In his speech during the forum of the League of Municipalities, Teodoro said he would leave his office in a few weeks when he formalized his candidacy for the highest post of the land. Teodoro confided that he did not have any separation anxiety in leaving his post after 2 ? years.

LMP president and Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. said the mayors requested to have a presidential debate to personally see the candidates.

Guico said Teodoro and Senators Manny Villar and Francis Escudero have confirmed their participation while former Joseph Estrada had begged off because he was shooting his film while Sen. Benigno Aquino sent his regrets because he was attending the wedding of Mar and Korina.

Guico said that while the more than 1,500 mayors were largely Lakas Kampi members, they would still wait for instructions from their "bosses" before making their choice.

Teodoro was easily the best dressed in the crowd of small town mayors. He arrived at 2:30 pm, waited nearly two hours for his turn to speak, and stayed up to 6 p.m. to mingle with the crowd who were happy to have their pictures taken with him.

In an interview, Teodoro said he has left the chore of finding his running mate to the party leaders.

?My hands are full with activities running my office, haven't had the time to think about that. But I will take care of that shortly before I resign or after. As of now, it's all work,? said Teodoro who focused on administrative matters in his speech.