A budding tandem of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto is a powerhouse combination that could beat the opposition in the 2010 elections, a senior party official said Sunday.

Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio cited the strength of Santos, a multi-awarded actress before joining politics a few years ago, as the administration's vice presidential bet, noting her praiseworthy track record in government and popularity.

Santos, who remains active in films while running affairs in Batangas, may just give luster to Teodoro, the administration bet endorsed by the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national executive committee, and win the votes of the masses.

Teodoro, a US-educated lawyer and bar topnotcher, has so far lagged behind among presidential aspirants in recent opinion polls. Santos, popularly known as Ate Vi among her fans, is the wife of former Senator Ralph Recto.

“A Gibo-Vilma (tandem) will be a powerhouse combination,” Claudio said in a text message to the Manila Bulletin, virtually confirming the ruling party’s continued search for a vice presidential bet despite earlier preference for Interior and Local Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

“Governor Vilma's success and experience as a local executive, not to mention her tremendous mass appeal, will complement Gibo's excellent credentials and expertise on international issues and national governance,” said Claudio, also secretary general of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

After endorsing the presidential bid of Teodoro, the national executive committee recently expressed preference for Puno as vice presidential bet in next year’s polls but later made it clear the decision is not yet final and official. Teodoro, once his presidential bid is ratified by a Lakas-Kampi-CMD party national convention next month, is also expected to be given the privilege to choose his running mate.

The newly merged administration party, meantime, has prepared Plan B, that includes keeping Teodoro as standard bearer, in case the Commission on Elections (Comelec) junks its petition for registration and accreditation.

In the unlikely event that the merger’s accreditation is delayed or denied, Claudio said the Lakas and Kampi, even as separate entities, will simply team under a coalition. The two political parties will still support Teodoro as administration standard bearer and a common set of candidates for all national and local positions, Claudio said. “So there is really nothing to worry about,” he added.

Claudio, however, remains optimistic the poll body will rule in favor of the merger of Lakas and Kampi despite complaints from former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. that the union was unlawful.

“We believe the possibility of the Comelec denying Lakas-Kampi’s bid for registration is remote. We are confident of the legal basis behind the merger,” he said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier said if the poll body rules against the merger of Lakas and Kampi, the administration’s presidential candidate will remain unchanged.

Ermita, also president of the party, said the national executive committee has expressed its sentiments favoring Teodoro, whom he has advised to quit the Cabinet to start promoting his candidacy in the provinces.

“The worst thing that can happen is that we will repeat the process. But it will still be him (Teodoro) who will be proclaimed standard bearer,” he said.

The strong party endorsement of Teodoro comes even as a group of local executive officials from Zamboanga peninsula have supported Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as an alternative presidential bet. Ebdane is supposedly the administration’s spare tire in case the candidacy of Teodoro is derailed by technicalities at the Comelec.

Malacañang earlier said President Arroyo is counting on the elevation of the 2010 electoral campaign based on performance and platform. The President hopes the affinity between Teodoro and Aquino would inspire other candidates to put an end to “personality politics” that often plagued the democratic exercise.