CEBU CITY, Philippines—Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and her One Cebu Party will be back the presidential bid of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Garcia, One Cebu president, made the announcement during the party convention at the Cebu International Convention Center on Saturday, saying that the selection of the presidential candidate the party will support was “both hard and easy.”

She said it was so “because it entailed every answer to difficult questions: Who among the candidates is best prepared to lead the country at this critical juncture in our history? Who best represents One Cebu’s ideals of competence and excellence in public service, intelligence in the service of the people, governance not dictated by politics but politics dictated by good governance, integrity that is beyond question and most importantly, humility that is inspired by the thought that we are all and to all, servants of the people.”

Having answered all the questions, Garcia said, the selection became easy.

“One Cebu is proud to give its full and unequivocal support to the next President of the Republic of the Philippines, the young, the brilliant, the dynamic leader Gibo Teodoro,” she told party members.

But Garcia remained mum on who they would support for vice president.

When actor and vice-presidential aspirant Edu Manzano entered the convention venue during the election of the officials of the newly registered party, the party leaders did not acknowledge his presence.

After a few minutes, Manzano quietly left the convention hall.

Asked if Manzano was a gate-crasher, One Cebu spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda answered in the negative, adding, however, that “technically he (Manzano) was not invited.”

Sepulveda explained that the party has yet to decide whom to support for vice president and senators.

He explained that Manzano was only looking for Teodoro, who arrived at the CICC ahead of his running mate.

At the time, Teodoro was at the venue’s holding room while waiting for Garcia’s announcement that One Cebu was supporting him.

Sepulveda said no one told Manzano to leave the summit hall but the latter left on his own to go to the holding room.

At the holding area, Sepulveda said, Manzano was told about the decision of the party to announce only the endorsement of Teodoro because the party has yet to decide whom they would be supporting among the other national candidates.

He explained that the selection has to go through a process although Garcia as the president of One Cebu was given full authority to select.

Sepulveda said Manzano was urged to mingle with the party members at the conclusion of the convention. This time, the party members took turns to shake hands with the actor.