CEBU CITY—Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and her One Cebu Party declared their support for the presidential bid of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., standard-bearer of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition.

Garcia, One Cebu president, made the announcement during the party convention held at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) summit hall Saturday, saying that the selection of the presidential candidate that the party would be supporting was “both hard and easy.”

Difficult process

“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?” said the governor.

“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,” she said.

Questions answered

Teodoro having answered all the questions, Garcia said, the selection became easy.

“Party mates and friends, fellow Cebuanos, 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 announced before One Cebu party members.

But Garcia remained mum on who the party 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 CICC summit hall.

Not invited

When asked if Manzano was a gatecrasher, One Cebu spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda answered in the negative, adding that “technically he (Manzano) was not invited.”

Sepulveda explained that the party has yet to decide whom to support for vice president and candidates for 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 actor left on his own to go to the holding room.

Intimate moment

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 to support in the vice presidential and senatorial races.

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 who the party would support.

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.

Teodoro’s struggle

Teodoro appeared unfazed by the low ratings he was getting from several surveys that showed his cousin, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, pulling ahead of the pack.

Some critics of the Arroyo administration said President Macapagal-Arroyo’s own low ratings were pulling Teodoro down.