With the ratings of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilbert Teodoro Jr. hardly gaining ground in surveys, party leaders say he needs a double-digit result by the end of January to prevent the exodus of key supporters. (Photo by LINUS G. ESCANDOR II)

Administration congressmen on Thursday expressed strong confidence that Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet, Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, will achieve double-digit ratings in poll surveys soon by firing up the party’s much-vaunted political machinery and avert an exodus.

Ruling party officials said an improvement to a double digit survey rating is expected to hold off a mass departure of Lakas-Kampi members who have become the objects of wellfunded recruitment reportedly by one of the presidential bets currently in the lead pack of surveys.

“Our party colleagues should also contribute in achieving this goal. Gibo cannot do it alone. He is doing his best to improve the ratings; it is now up to us party members to help. We must not just watch on the sidelines,” said Rep. Mitos Magsaysay of Zambales.

Teodoro’s poll survey position has shown improvement in the past two months but remained in single digits, ranging from 5 to 7 percent according to Pulse Asia and Social Weather Station surveys, prompting forecasts that many administration party members would soon jump ship.

Magsaysay said Teodoro should emerge among the frontrunners once voters start to examine the qualifications of presidential bets.

“Right now, Filipinos are examining the qualifications. We are confident Lakas-Kampi has fielded the right person that would fit the qualities of a candidate they are looking for,” she added.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez noted that Teodoro’s presence in a meeting with majority of local leaders of 46 towns in the province and a subsequent market visit registered strongly among voters in the province.

“Iniharap ko si Gibo sa buong political machinery sa Quezon. Nabago ang aura ng mga tao matapos na makilala at makita si Gibo at Nikki (Teodor’s wife, Rep. Nikki Teodoro),” said Suarez.

Although many of the leaders were already committed to other candidates, Teodoro’s presence convinced them that the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer is what “our country deserves”, Suarez added.

“Our strength at Lakas-Kampi lies on the 61 percent of incumbent leaders who can deliver votes in their respective localities to about 60 percent. The party is only asking us to deliver 30 percent, that will be the objective,” Suarez stressed.

Retired police Director General Avelino Razon, Jr., mayoral bet of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the city of Manila, for his part has adopted Teodoro Jr. as his group’s presidential candidate.

Razon said Teodoro is “the only qualified presidential candidate who will not only lead the country to economic prosperity and progress but institute meaningful reforms in the bureaucracy based on his untainted reputation as public servant, particularly on the issue of graft and corruption.”

Razon pointed out that their group is supporting only Teodoro. Their vice presidential bet is still Senator Loren Legarda who belongs to the NPC.

“We were given a free hand (by the NPC leadership) to choose our preferred presidential bet because we don’t have a presidential candidate from our party,” the former chief of the Philippine National Police said after declaring his support for Teodoro at the Golden Fortune Hotel in Manila.

Razon vouched for the integrity and credibility of Teodoro. They worked together while the former was PNP chief and the latter was secretary of the Department of National Defense.

Following his stint as PNP chief, President Arroyo appointed Razon – fondly called by his supporters as “Kuya Sonny” – as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and was again able to work with Teodoro being both members of the Cabinet Cluster E on National Security.

Teodoro is optimistic that Razon can transform Manila as a “21st Century Model City” that will be able to meet the future challenges concerning issues on environment protection, peace and order, health services and employment opportunities for its 1.6 million residents.

Meanwhile, Teodoro’s consistently low rating does not mean that he will certainly lose, a Cabinet official said.

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno said what would really matter are the surveys conducted in the middle of March. (With reports from Aris Ilagan and Aaron Recuenco)