MANILA, Philippines ? With the ?leadership vacuum? in Maguindanao, Lakas-Kampi CMD presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro said the government must focus not only on restoring peace and order in the country?s third poorest province but also on self-reliance to lift the lives of its residents.

In a statement, Teodoro said: ?The government?s goals need to go beyond restoring peace and stability to the area and eliminating private armies and armed militias. They should also be tailored to reforming the local bureaucracy to help ensure that a self-reliant democracy is established where the people of Maguindanao can undertake meaningful economic progress unhindered by violence.?

The former defense secretary said that with the leadership vacuum in the province following the ouster of the powerful Ampatuan clan from power, the government, after lifting martial law last Saturday, should seize the initiative in shifting government efforts and resources toward strengthening the province?s democracy.

Teodoro said the first order of business was to put an end to the residents? ?culture of dependence on warlords.?