MANILA, Philippines—His loyalty to the President ends where his loyalty to his mother-in-law begins.

Administration standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Monday conceded that he valued his mother-in-law more than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and his uncle Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.

“All are important. Of course, the mother-in-law is important naturally. Without a mother, there’s no daughter. Without a daughter, there’s no wife,” he said, drawing cheers from the audience at the Inquirer-organized presidential debate at a packed UP Theater.

Inquirer senior reporter Fe Zamora asked Teodoro to rank Ms Arroyo, Cojuangco and his mother-in-law Mary Beth de Leon in the order of importance, and to identify who he would help in a dire situation, such as imprisonment or death.

Teodoro is married to Tarlac Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro, whose mother is De Leon.

“The mother-in-law, and then the rest are equal,” he said when the reporter pressed who was No. 1 on his list, again eliciting laughter from the crowd.

The presidential candidate of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition, however, said he would not lift a finger if any of them were imprisoned.

“To save them from prison, that’s their own legal lookout. They have rights under the law, and if elected president, I shall not interfere,” he said.

The 45-year-old Teodoro, his running mate Edu Manzano, and their senatorial and local candidates are kicking off the national campaign of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD on Tuesday afternoon at the Ynares Coliseum in Antipolo City.