Cordillera Officials Close Ranks For Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr.
At least 150 local leaders in the Cordillera Administrative Region led by four governors, two vice governors and two members of the House of Representatives have pledged support for their “adopted son” former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. in this year’s presidential contest.
The Cordillera officials join their Northern Alliance counterparts in having declared support for Teodoro, whose maternal grandmother hails from Baguio City, during a Sunday night dinner program at the Hotel Supreme Convention Center.
They likewise committed to work for the victory of Teodoro’s running mate, former Optical Media Board chief Edu Manzano, and his six senatorial candidates reelectionist Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, former Cabinet secretary Silvestre Bello, lawyer Raul Lambino, media personality Rey Langit and Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. of Binalonan, Pangasinan.
The four governors are Maximino Dalog of Mountain Province, Nestor Fongwan of Benguet, Floycelia Diasen of Kalinga and Luis Bersamin of Abra.
Representatives Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City and Solomon Chungalao of Ifugao also declared their full support for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer during the Sunday event along with Vice Governors Cresencio Pacalso of Benguet and Rolando Somera of Abra.
With the support of an overwhelming number of CAR executives, Teodoro has consolidated his electoral base in the vaunted Solid North” as he had earlier secured the backing of local elective officials ranging from legislators and governors down to mayors in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Isabela and La Union.
The “Northern Alliance” is the potent House bloc comprising legislators from the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and CAR as well as Ilocano-speaking lawmakers from other congressional districts across the country..
