MANILA, July 24 -- In his quest to clinch the presidential nomination of the ruling coalition, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Friday formally took his oath as a member of the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrat) party.
Party president and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita administered the oath on Teodoro at the party headquarters along Ortigas-Edsa, in San Juan City.
Teodoro's wife, Tarlac Rep. Monica Prieto-Teodoro, also took her oath as a member of the newly-merged ruling party.
In his speech, Ermita said the Defense chief's oath-taking was just the first step of his journey with the party.
He said Teodoro made the right decision and that the presence of a good number of party officials was a show of force.
"This is a signal to whoever is going to face our party in the forthcoming election that this early the leaders of the party from north to south, east to west, are all here to show the strength of Lakas-Kampi-CMD," said Ermita.
After his speech, he declared: "Mabuhay ang partido. Mabuhay si Gilbert. Mabuhay si Ronnie Puno."
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno has earlier declared he wanted to seek the vice presidency of the ruling party.
Teodoro said, "nothing can ever describe what I'm feeling right now because of the warm welcome you have shown me."
He said he joined the party because he believed in its principles and was committed to abide by it and to the party's decision on who it will choose to be the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer in the 2010 national and local elections.
"This the only party that has proven itself in abiding by principles. More important than our victory in 2010 is for this party to become a movement... a movement for change, a movement for true reforms, a movement for the continued implementation of pro-poor programs, a movement for the achievement of genuine peace. And this isn't seen because of the political noise around us," he said.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD secretary general and Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio, who is present during the oath-taking, said the party was expected to put in the "finishing touches" to the selection process for its candidates in the 2010 elections soon.
Teodoro is one of the choices for the party's standard bearer, including Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando.
Vice President Noli de Castro, an independent, is also a rumored choice of the ruling party, although he has mostly kept mum on his political plans.
Claudio said with the induction of the Defense Secretary, he (Teodoro) has the "inside track" in the selection process for the standard-bearer.
He however said the party was not closing the doors to party and non-party members, including De Castro.
"If he (De Castro) takes his oath too, you can be sure that the welcome atmosphere, environment and warmth that we are going to receive him is going to be the same as you have witnessed this morning," he said. (PNA)