CEBU CITY— Leaders of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD have expressed confidence that they have seen the last of defectors from the party, saying that those that remained, representing about twothirds of politicians seeking elective posts on May 10, will devote the remaining days of the campaign period to push hard for the election of party standard bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

A total of 135 incumbent candidates for congressman and governor, most of them incumbent, signed here a manifesto entitled “The Cebu Declaration” to reaffirm their support for Teodoro. “There will no longer be any defections,” House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor said.

Party chairperson Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa said the certificate of accreditation of the handful members who switched parties in the height of the presidential campaign have already been cancelled.

Villarosa, together with party secretary general Ray Roquero, said the ruling party’s well-oiled grassroots organization will be behind Teodoro’s victory on May 10.

“The grain has been successfullyseparated from the chaff but the party remained the biggest political group in the country, comprising at least 65 percent of the participants in the May 10 elections. Gibo will win,” said Villarosa.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia minced no words in assailing party members who have jumped ship after receiving help from the party to support their local campaign.

“Now we see the emergence of politicians with word of honor. When before it used to be acceptable or a natural course of things to jump ship and defect, now they are being treated like pariah, like lepers,” said Garcia, head of One Cebu, the most powerful political organization in the province.

She added: “Switching alliances and loyalties at this time will be a political suicide.”

Speaker Prospero Nograles, an outspoken critic of Teodoro, was not present but he was represented by his son, Jericho and chief of staff George Regalado.

A massive disinformation campaign targeting Teodoro has claimed that Governors Erico Aumentado (Bohol); Nestor Fongwan (Benguet) and Casimiro Ynares III (Rizal), together with Rep. Victor Ortega (La Union), have jumped ship.

All four senior LKC members decried attempts to picture him as disloyal to the party. They have affirmed their support for Teodoro, saying that they would make a final push for his candidacy as soon as returned to the campaign trail.

Teodoro, who was escorted to the caucus by a huge cheering crowd of green-shirted supporters, thanked partymates who attended the caucucs “for committing themselves to a future agenda for a people who have waited far too long to make their country a proud, a strong one.”