Defense, Secretary Teodoro was keen on ably pursuing Philippine defense reforms and was determined to make the defense and military establishment truly responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people.

Before he became the Secretary of National Defense, he was Congressman of the First District of for three (3) PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND consecutive terms starting 1998. At the House, he assumed the position of Assistant Majority Leader (11th Congress) • Youngest Secretary of National Defense at 43 years and Head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition House old, August 2007- November 2009 members. He was also a member of the House contingent • Chairman, National Disaster Coordinating Council, to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. August 2007- November 2009 • 3 term Congressman (1st District-Tarlac) 1998-2007 His passion for public service and aptitude for leadership • Practicing (Estelito Mendoza Law Firm) 1989- is evident even at a very young age. Shortly after he 1996 completed his secondary education at the Xavier School, • 1st Place, 1989 Philippine Bar Examinations he was elected President of the Kabataang Barangay for • Licensed Commercial Pilot (Lear Jet 31 Rating) Tarlac in 1980 and concurrently assumed Presidency of • Colonel, (Reserve) the Kabataang Barangay for until 1985. He • Kabataang Barangay President, Central Luzon, (at also became a member of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of fifteen) 1980-1986 Tarlac from 1980 to 1986. • Member, of Tarlac, 1980- 1986 Even with his hands full, Secretary Teodoro successfully completed his Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Financial Institutions at the in 1984. Since then, he focused his sights on acquiring for himself • West Negros University, Honoris Causa, Doctor of Laws, further education and knowledge to aid him in his desire 2009 to pursue public service. In 1989, he completed his Law • Harvard Law School, Masters of Laws studies at the University of the where he was • University of the Philippines, Bachelor of Laws awarded the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence. In the (Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence, 1989) same year, he topped the Philippine Bar exams. • Air Command and Staff College, Air Education and Training Command, Philippine Air Force, Command and For seven years, he honed his skills as a lawyer in Staff Course (Leadership Awardee, Seminar Academic the famed EP Mendoza Law firm. Armed with years Excellence Awardee, 2001) of experience, he went to the Harvard Law School in • Joint and Combined Staff Officers Course, Class Nr Cambridge for his Master of Laws and completed it in 1997. 1, JCSC, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City (Leadership He was also admitted to the State Bar of New York during Awardee, 2003) the same year. • De La Salle University, BSC Major in Financial Institutions, 1984 Secretary Teodoro, who holds distinct memberships in the • Xavier School (High school and Elementary) Integrated Bar of the Philippines, UP Alumni Association, UP Law Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Association ABOUT THE CANDIDATE and the Harvard Law Alumni Association, is also a licensed commercial pilot and a Colonel in the Philippine Air Force Honorable Gilberto “Gilbert” Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr. (born Reserve. He is the son of the former SSS Administrator June 14, 1964) was the youngest Secretary to hold the Gilberto, Sr., and Mercedes Cojuangco and is married to Defense portfolio at the age of 43, when he assumed the Representative Monica Prieto-Teodoro; they have one son, post in August 2007. As head of the Department of National Jaime Gilberto. Triple-M Whammy: Maguindanao, massacre, Wall Street Journal backs and martial law By FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL V. RAMOS Teodoro December 12, 2009, 8:30pm FORMER Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is the most FVR hailed Gibo’s daring actions, saying: “While the other viable candidate for the presidency next year because he presidential aspirants merely condemned the massacre as was is the only one with a “solid background in law and order,” expected, it was Teodoro who displayed the boldness according to an editor of the Wall Street Journal. and courage to immediately rush to Maguindanao even before the AFP/PNP moved to clear the province of its private “None of the other front-runners in the 2010 presidential armies and arms stockpiles.” derby has a solid background in law and order,” Brett Decker, the business paper’s opinion editor, said in the daily’s online The Manila Bulletin (December 10) reported: edition late last month. “‘Where are they?’ asked Ramos in apparent reference to the other presidential candidates. ‘It is in situations such as these “A volatile situation underscores the need for a leader com- that leaders are born. This is what the country needs in times petent in handling law-and-order problems,” he said. Chris- if crises; the country needs leaders who can take risks,’ tine F. Herrera Ramos said.

From http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews. From http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/233815/triplem- htm?f=2009/december/5/news5.isx&d=/2009/december/5 whammy-maguindanao-massacre-and-martial-law Fil- Chinese traders cite ‘Gibo’ leadership February 5, 2010. Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. is best to be at the helm of the country in times of national crises, a key leader of the Filipino- Chinese business community said Friday.

Alfonso Uy, FFCCCII national president, said Teodoro’s Business groups satisfied extraordinary crisis leadership typifies the spirit of Filipino- Chinese volunteerism that is geared at mitigating the effect of with Teodoro disasters on peoples’ lives without media fanfare and mileage. Business World, February 18, 2010: “That is extraordinary leadership, when you do something THE COUNTRY’S premier business group yesterday said good without expecting public adulation in return,” he said. administration bet and former Defense secretary Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro, Jr. of the Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Teodoro was welcomed warmly by an enthusiastic gathering of Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) has presented clearer the influential FFCCCII, which has 170 member-organizations goals and plans of action compared to other leading presidential nationwide. candidates. Uy said that Teodoro, the assembly’s guest speaker, has been Alberto A. Lim, Makati Business Club (MBC) executive director, an active partner of the FFCCCII in the chambers’ activities said after the MBC general meeting that in contrast to Liberal Party in the latter’s capacity as chairman of the National Disaster (LP) bet Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III and Coordinating Council (NDCC) until November of last year. (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manuel “Manny” B. Villar, Jr., who previously presented themselves to the group in “During relief operations for typhoons Frank and Ondoy, we separate occasions, Mr. Teodoro “pointed out specific programs, saw how effective, methodical and hardworking a specific goals and specific time lines to achieve such goals. He’s crisis manger Secretary Teodoro is,” Uy told the meeting very articulate... we think he’s very good.” to resounding applause by participants. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/242121/fil-chinese- From http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=6587 traders-cite-gibo-leadership Gilbert Teodoro: Light at the end of the tunnel (abridged) HINDSIGHT By F Sionil Jose (The Philippine Star) Updated January 10, 2010 12:00 AM

I knew Gilbert’s father; Cabral of the Department of Social Welfare, he was the head of the and Gilbert. Social Security System — a major institution with billions; he was During the recent onslaught of typhoons able to protect the SSS Ondoy and Pepeng when so many sections of from the rapacity of Luzon were flooded and hundreds were killed Imelda. He was a judicious public servant, in the floods and landslides, Gilbert, who punctilious and efficient. Gilbert Senior was headed the National Disaster Coordinating strict, and Gilbert Junior is grateful to his Agency, was often criticized for not doing old man for his Spartan upbringing; this way enough, and if he did something, it was too early enough he understood the wellsprings little and too late. of his father’s unblemished integrity. What the critics forgot is that Gilbert was merely the coordinator of that massive relief But what does a rich boy know about effort, that other agencies had not acted fast poverty, which is the country’s gravest enough. Still, during this period, Gilbert malady today? His answer: a doctor treating worked very hard, spent many sleepless a leprous patient does not have to have nights and those who saw him on TV leprosy himself to treat the disease. noticed how haggard he looked.

Though the manor where he lived was in As Gilbert explains it, that disaster was, for Manila, he commuted to Paniqui, in Tarlac him a defining moment. That catastrophe to that irenic Ilokano barrio Matalaptap, and his unequivocal stand to the challenge where he got to live with the children and of the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao were the know the language. most difficult tests of his endurance and iron obligation to his office. As a trapo — he honors the label — he learned how it is to be cast in the dumps, the The election in May will certainly be very humbling punishment of being there, and the different from past elections. Thousands healing rise from the bottom of the pit. upon thousands of new voters will go to the polls — many of them students who, Then, in those years that he served, first like the young everywhere, will not be as a three-term Congressman, he saw the conned by popular celebrities and dazzling real face of poverty, and from this visceral showbiz gimmicks. They will certainly vote experience, he has come upon ideas about for candidates who, they feel, will give us how to alleviate it, not by institutionalizing good government...This is how it should be, that he did not take a single peso from the the solutions but assuring, for instance, that we be proud of our leaders because they department coffers, that he protected the that the peasantry should be comfortable have something between their ears, that they integrity of the bidding process. through entrepreneurship and by other can stand shoulder to shoulder beside other methods by which farm incomes will rise. leaders of the Western world. Gilbert said that he will retire from public service when he reaches 51. With his Gilbert Teodoro has more assets — in At the end of a recent talk at the Philippine background and record, could he possibly be contrast to the others who aspire for the job. Military Academy, I was asked by a cadet the man on a white horse — or atop a tank For one, he topped the bar examinations, and to forecast the future...I hope we will not — who will be the ultimate modernizer? has a master’s degree from America’s most usher to Malacañang scoundrels, thieves Abangan, for there is no assurance that he is famous university, Harvard. He is a colonel and nicompoops — and that I had my the man. I am sure, though, that if he wins, in the Reserve Force. eyes on Gilbert Teodoro. he will try as best as he can not to disappoint us. Integrity? Paterno confirmed my estimate My announcement was greeted with of the man when he said, as quoted in applause. F. Sionil Jose is the famous National Artist for Literature, and a critic of President the papers that he knew of only two I did a bit of inquiring. The military officers Arroyo. Full article at http://www.philstar. Arroyo cabinet members who know what he had done in the two years that com/Article.aspx?articleId=539378&public were really honest: Esperanza he was Defense Secretary..They know, too, ationSubCategoryId=86 Hindi na tayo makakapili ng kandidatong karapat-dapat Gibo. Lalong walang bahid ng dumi ang paglilingkod niya manungkulan sa bayan habang ang isip natin ay sayang sa bayan. Naging Congressman ng Tarlac at pagkatapos ay lamang ang iboboto kung ibibigay sa na hindi piniling Secretary of National Defense. naman mananalo. Mayroon ba kayong nalalaman na nasangkutang eskandalo Ito marahil ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit patuloy ang si Gibo na may kinalaman sa nakawan? Wala akong pagkabulok ng liderato ng bansa sa mga nakaraang nalalaman. Wala akong nakikita. panahon. Ang ating hinahanap ay ang kandidatong mananalo. Iyong mga kandidatong sikat, pala ging nakikita Ang tanging “kasalanan” ni Gibo ay ang pagiging kandidato sa TV dahil malakas gumastos. ng administrasyong Arroyo. Hindi raw siya mananalo dahil amo niya si GMA. Kung manalo man, hindi raw niya kayang Ang laki ba ng gastos ang pa latandaan ng kakayahang ipakulong si GMA sa dami ng kasalanang nagawa nito at umugit ng bayan? Palagay ko hindi. Ang kakayahang patuloy na ginagawa laban sa bayan. gumastos ng malaki ay pagpapahayag na binibili ng isang kandidato ang boto ng bayan. Huwag naman sana tayong pabigla-bigla sa paghusga kay Gibo. Hindi siya tuta na katulad ng iba niyang kasamahan sa Puwera na lang si Noynoy Aquino na ang katangian ay rehimeng Arroyo. May sarili siyang paninindigan. pagiging anak ng bayani ng demokrasya – si Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. at si yumaong Pangulong – ang Ang aking ikinatutuwa kay Gibo ay ang katotohanang ibang kandidato ay matataas sa survey dahil malaki ang hindi niya ipinagtatanggol ang maraming mali na ginawa gastos at matagal ng naghahanda sa paglaban sa pagka- at patuloy na ginagawa ni Gloria Arroyo. Tahimik lamang pangulo. siya ngunit tapat sa tungkulin at sa bayan.

Pero kilala ba natin ang tunay nilang ugali at kakayahan? Iba naman iyan sa pagiging tapat kay Gloria Arroyo. Hindi Hindi. Humahanga tayo sa kanila dahil malimit natin silang laging pagiging katapatan sa bayan ang katapatan kay Gloria makita sa TV, marinig sa radio at mabasa sa diyaryo. Arroyo. Malimit magkakontra ang dalawa.

Ang lumalabas ngayon ay natatakpan ang kanilang tunay na Walang dahilan kundi ang malayang pag-iisip, tibay ng dibdib ugali at kakayahan sa laki ng gastos sa media. sa tama at walang bahid na paglilingkod kung bakit hindi man niya alam, ay tinutulungan ko siya sa kampanya. Nasabi ang mga bagay na ito dahil sa ugali at kakayahan ni Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, kandidato ng pagka-presidente Ang una kong punto ay pagturo sa sambayanang Pilipino na ng administrasyon. Hindi marami ang tao na nakakaalam ng hanapin ang tunay na katangian ng isang kandidato. Hindi kanyang kakayahan at ugali. na tayo makakapaghalal ng kandidatong may malasakit sa bayan kung ang ating basehan ay ang resulta ng survey. Nagkataon naman na bata pa siya ay kilala ko na. Anak siya ng yumao kong kaibigang si Bert Teodoro, namahala ng SSS Ang resulta ng survey ay walang kinalaman sa katangian ng sa loob ng halos 20 taon at pinatibay niya ito sa kabila ng kandidato. Walang sinasabi ito kung ang laki ng gastos sa malawak na kurakutan sa panahon ng diktadura. mga grandstanding at sa media. Ano ang kakayahan niya?

Hindi maingay si Bert sa pagtulong sa mahihirap. Pero Iyan ang hindi sinasabi sa survey at hindi natin malalaman. hindi siya napilit ng rehimeng Marcos na isuka ang pera ng manggagawa kung hindi nila ito pakikinabangan. Personal kong alam ang kakayahan ni Gibo dahil kaibigan ko ang mga magulang niya at nakita ko siyang Iisang anak si Gibo nina Ditas Cojuangco at Gilberto lumaki hanggang sa maging batikang abogado. Teodoro. Bihira ang nag-iisang anak ng mag-asawang mayaman Nag-aral ng batas sa University of the Philippines. ang tunay na matino at nagmamahal sa magulang at bayan. Mahal ni Gibo ang kanyang magulang dahil para Valedictorian noong mag-graduate. Nagpraktis ng batas sa sa kanya sila rin ang bayan. ilalim ng isa ring batikang abogado ng mga kumpanya ni - si Estelito Mendoza. Mabuhay ka, Gibo.

Sa aking pagkaalam, walang bahid ng dumi ang pamilya ni http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/feb0210/op_jm.htm