BATANGAS CITY, Philippines-—Lakas Kampi presidential aspirant Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Monday that the ability to inspire people was not the overriding qualification the country’s chief executive must have in solving the nation’s most complex problems.

“Hindi pwedeng inspirasyon lamang ang solusyon sa mga nasira ng mga bagyo at mga problema ng bansa, kailangan ito ng eksperyensya at hindi ito ang panahon para mag-experimento at matuto pa (Inspiration is not enough in fixing what the typhoons destroyed and in solving the country’s problems. These problems require experience and this is not the time for experimentation and learning),” Teodoro said.

The administration standard bearer issued the statement after Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto cited the ability of Sen. Benigno Noynoy Aquino III and Sen. Mar Roxas to inspire people as her reason for moving to the Liberal Party.

Teodoro acknowledged the big loss the party suffered when Ms Santos-Recto defected to the Liberal Party, but struck a note of optimism in the end.

He said Lakas-Kampi was like a tree from which fruits were being picked. He expressed optimism that the party would survive because new fruits would grow in place of those ripe enough to be taken away.

Teodoro had a mass oath-taking of party members Monday afternoon at the University of Batangas here.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Santos-Recto’s transfer to Liberal Party was not the end of the world.

Ermita added that Lakas-Kampi would have to field its gubernatorial bet soon.