A senior member of the House of Representatives Tuesday likened Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. to the late president Manuel L. Quezon, citing the former’s leadership qualities, intelligence and competence to steer the nation to greater heights if elected as the country’s next president in the May elections this year.

Rep. Neptali Gonzales II (Lone District, Mandaluyong City), also a senior member of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, described the 45-year-old Teodoro as "a rare political figure with the makings of the next Manuel L. Quezon.”.

Quezon, who was president of the Philippine Commonwealth, is regarded by historians as one of the Philippines’ best presidents for ushering in an era of wide-ranging legislative, economic, and social reforms in the country and bringing it a step away from independence from the United States.

First elected as president in November 1935 while running under the Nacionalista Party, Quezon was later re-elected to the same post on 1941 shortly before the World War II broke out.

Aside from these, Quezon was regarded as a champion of the masses or the poor sector during his two terms as the country’s president.

“Gibo Teodoro has what it takes to do a Quezon," Gonzales said. "He has the integrity, leadership and intellectual rigor to launch the country into a new glorious period of reforms."

Gonzales, son of the late Senate President Neptali Gonzales, also cited Teodoro’s intelligence which he described as "far superior to any of his competitors in the presidential race."

Choosing the country's next president is an extremely vital exercise, Gonzales said, and appealed to Filipinos to vote into office a candidate "not on popularity but on his overall capacity to lead and reform society and government.”

Gonzales also said a great leader stands out because of his "willingness to confront a major obstacle during his time of leadership."

The lawmaker said that Teodoro showed this leadership quality when he calmly dealt with the devastation brought by typhoons ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng’ as chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Teodoro’s integrity stood out when he refused to use his NDCC post as a vehicle for his political agenda while conducting relief operations for the victims of the disasters, Gonzales pointed out. He also said he knew of no incidents where Teodoro told displaced families "to vote for him" while he and the NDCC staff where distributing relief goods.

Teodoro performed his mandated task quietly and without fanfare, Gonzales added, in sharp contrast with some of presidential candidates "who invariably went to see the media first before conducting their own relief operations.” (with a report by Gabriel Mabutas)