Presidential bets Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Senator Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan aired contrasting views on various health issues Tuesday but both agreed that addressing the rapid “brain drain’ should be among the priorities of their government if elected president.

Teodoro and Gordon won the admiration of the country’s health professionals for facing them in the nationally-televised Presidential Debate on Health Care where they were also made to declare their present state of health, their sex life and position on the politically sensitive reproductive health controversy.

Presidential poll survey leaders Sen. Benigno Aquino III of Liberal Party and Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party failed to show up in the debate sponsored jointly by the Philippine College of Physicians and the Ateneo School of Medicine.

Gordon declared he is on the peak of health while Teodoro admitted that he is taking maintenance dose of medicines for hypertension and high blood sugar which he inherited from his parents.

Asked about histsex life, Teodoro shyly smiled, took a glimpse at his pretty wife, Tarlac Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro, then went legalese: “That is within the protective sphere of privacy.”

Rep. Prieto-Teodoro was seated directly across the former defense secretary, in the audience gallery with their only son.

Gordon’s reply drew laughter from the audience that consisted of top doctors in the country, students and other medical professionals.

“You don’t want me to brag here, do you?” he asked.

On the serious side, Teodoro advocated for “free, moral choice” with respect to questions of reproductive health in addressing the population problem of the country, saying he will not stand on the .way of any advocacy on the issue.

“It’s up to them to advocate, but once a choice has been made by a Filipino, particularly without means, then that choice must be supported by the government,” he said.

Teodoro said he would encourage more dialogues ont he issue and seek a consensus among the stakeholders that include the Filipino couple, the church, government and non-government organizations.

Once a consensus has been reached and a choice has been made, Teodoro said he would allow government funds to finance both artificial and natural methods of contraception with the exception of abortion.

Gordon said he will not allow government funds to be used for artificial birth control methods, stressing that the amount sought would be put to support his education program.