In liking themselves as “good generals on the ground,” a group of provincial governors belonging to the Lakas Kampi CMD vowed to deliver the votes needed to ensure the victory of their party’s standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on the forthcoming May 10 elections.

“The ground generals are the governors in the provinces. They have the control of the majority,” Governor Bong Carreon of Marinduque said in an interview.

Carreon issued the statement in reaction to the latest survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS) that showed Teodoro still tailing far behind the three other presidential contenders – Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party, Sen. Manny “Manuel” Villar of the Nationalista Party; and former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino – when he garnered only six percent from the December 27-28 survey results.

“The reality is on the time of voting. It (Teodoro’s victory) remains to be seen but based on our experience, we can do it,” Carreon stressed.

Governor Miguel “Migz” Dominguez of Sarrangani, who is also Lakas Kampi CMD president, said that being the “little presidents’ in their area of jurisdiction, local officials can sway the votes of their constituents for their preferred candidates since they have their trust being their elected officials.

“Meron po kaming mukha at pangalan na pinangangalagaan (We have a reputation and name to protect). We are considered the ‘father’ in our community so we enjoy the people’s trust,” Dominguez said.

As far as August last year, Dominguez pointed out that at least 61 provincial governors have thrown their support for then Defense Secretary Teodoro – a bar top notcher and a Harvard-trained lawyer – who was then still raking a low .03 percent in different opinion surveys.

Dominguez said that Gibo’s supporters from the ranks of the provincial governors will not abandon him until Election Day.

In claiming that some surveys may be misleading, Dominguez said that the results of the opinion polls depend heavily on who funded it.

“Unfortunately, this is something we have to address. Tama bang sabihin na ang surveys ay pumapabor lamang sa mga bumibili ng surveys? Kung sino ang nangongontrata (Is it appropriate to say that surveys should favour only those who finance them? Or to who ever tapped the survey groups?” the Lakas president asked.