Gibo's positive campaign spurs campaign surge

The consistent stance of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro of rising above the political fray despite the spate of demolition jobs against him has transformed the former defense chief into the “people’s candidate” who is now riding on an unstoppable campaign surge in the remaining weeks prior to the May 10 polls, his spokesman has said.

Lawyer and former press secretary Mike Toledo said on radio that Gibo’s move to remain unaffected by the smear jobs against him—much less fight engage in mudslinging himself—has distinguished him among the current crop of presidential candidates, some of whom have taken turns attacking each other instead of focusing on the relevant issues or national concerns crying to be discussed in this election campaign.

Toledo, who also heads the G1BO 2010 Media Bureau, said in a radio interview that voters now see Gibo as the best choice among the presidentiables as he has proven himself to be the “most decent and most principled” among the contenders.

Gibo’s decision not to dignify the attacks against him or to also attack his opponents has endeared him to voters who have gotten tired of the “gutter politics” in this year’s elections, Toledo noted.

“Gusto niyang ipakita sa taong-bayan na pwede tayong umangat sa ganyang klaseng pamumulitika na tawag natin ay gutter politics. (Gibo wants to show our countrymen that we can rise above such kind of politics, which we call gutter politics). And even patronage politics,” Toledo said in the radio interview.

Toledo said Gibo’s decision to stick to his style of positive campaigning despite the black propaganda hurled against him has even generated “sympathy votes” to his side.

“The support for Gibo continues to surge and he is now being called the ‘people’s candidate,’ ” Toledo said. “People have crossed party lines and they are voting for Gibo because they say that he is a cut above the rest.”

Toledo said that instead of wasting time answering baseless attacks against him, Gibo would rather present to the people his vision for the country and platform of government because he believes that “the Filipino people deserve better” than the politics of hate that they are now witnessing in the campaigns of other presidential candidates.

He noted that Gibo can count on over 200 congressional and gubernatorial candidates who have remained loyal to him and vowed to continue their campaign for his victory in the May 10 elections.

At least 41 incumbent governors and gubernatorial candidates led by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia met just recently to reinstate their commitment of support for Gibo's presidential bid.Gibo also has the backing of 168 congressional candidates, 71 of them incumbent legislators.

Toledo said that besides these factors, among the other reasons for Gibo's surging campaign, are the nationwide reach of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD campaign machinery and his ever-growing army of young volunteers across the country, who have hailed him as the "people's candidate."

Among the volunteer groups mounting parallel “green rallies” to broaden Gibo’s constituency and ensure his victory in the presidential race are Volunteers for Gibo of Andrew Masigan; Mahal Ko, Bayan Ko of Evelyn Kilayko; Green Team 2010; G-Squad; Animo Gibo; Palit-Galing Movement; Friends of Ramos for Teodoro; and GTBrigada Gibo.

Daisy Bardoquillo, who heads the Kilusan ng mga Aktwal na Naninirahan sa Estado ng Payatas (Kanepa), said Gibo has emerged as the frontrunner, along with Estrada, in the mock polls in Metro Manila's highly populated slum districts.

Toledo said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD juggernaut and the Gibo's apparent lock on the votes of students and other young voters, which make up the majority of this year's electorate, will ensure his victory on May 10.

The Green Army Komunidad, a multisectoral group consisting of tens of thousands of Gibo volunteers, have mobilized and launched a nationwide grassroots campaign, anchored on positivity, to convince voters to choose Gibo as the country's next president.

Gibo volunteers all over the country have also vowed to take to the streets in major urban centers in the last two weeks leading to the May 10 elections in order to mount spontaneous “green rallies” in support of Gibo. -30-