Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., advised on Tuesday Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., to distance himself from President Arroyo and unify the warring factions in the ruling party, if he wants to have better chances of winning the 2010 presidential race.

With his unsolicited advice, the former presidential son said Teodoro will suffer defeat in next year election should he fail to unify the warring groups in the administration party.

Teodoro was recently chosen as standard bearer of the newly merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD, but his nomination remains in doubt because of the pending petition of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., questioning the legality of the merger between Lakas-CMD and President Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

De Venecia claimed the merger violated the constitution and by-laws of Lakas-CMD, the political party he co-founded with former President Fidel V. Ramos.