by Edcer Escudero
Is Gilbert Teodoro a child of history? Let’s turn back the hands of time and find out if he is, indeed, history’s child.
In 1953, Ramon Magsaysay, secretary of defense in the Quirino administration, ran for president – and won – against the man who named him to the defense post. Before becoming defense chief, Magsaysay was congressman of Zambales province.
It was as defense secretary that he gained national prominence and stature for his policy of attraction which effectively neutralized the anti-government movement known as Hukbalahap, or the Huks, led by the enigmatic Luis Taruc.
But what brought Magsaysay almost instantaneous fame and folk hero status was his dramatic handling of the Moises Padilla murder case. He flew to Bacolod City and personally arrested the mastermind, Gov. Rafael Lacson.
The Nacionalista Party, determined to end the Liberal Party’s hold on power, saw in Magsaysay the winning formula for the 1953 presidential race. It ‘pirated Magsaysay and made him the party standard bearer. The rest, as they say, is history. The defense boss beat his former boss, Pres. Elpidio Quirino.
Magsaysay’s campaign slogan was “Magsaysay is my guy,” and his campaign jingle had the bold catch phrase “Our democracy will die kung wala si Magsaysay!” He actually saved democracy. He was the original and true icon of democracy. He not only symbolized democracy, he personified democracy. Anyone, after him, who claims to be the icon of democracy is a second rate copycat.
Magsaysay’s 1953 presidential candidacy has a parallel today in Gilbert Teodoro’s nomination as Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential standard bearer for the 2010 elections. Teodoro’s rise to political prominence is virtually a carbon copy of Magsaysay’s own spectacular rise to popularity and public consciousness
Like Magsaysay, Teodoro was a congressman before President Arroyo gave him the defense portfolio. He bolted, two months ago, the Nationalist People’s Coalition party headed by his uncle Eduardo Cojuanco. The latter and the Marcos’s were the “best of friends forever.”
Magsaysay fought the Huks, and won them over to the government side. Taruc later became a model farmer.
Teodoro ordered the fight against the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu and somewhat halted their stampede that claimed the lives of 23 government troops.
Teodoro is far more qualified than Magsaysay was when he ran for president. The Guy had a commerce college degree from the University of the East. Teodoro is a UP law graduate and bar topnotcher. He has a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University obtained in 1995.
Eighty-five congressman in the Lakas-Kampi camp said in a manifesto endorsing Teodoro’s candidacy: “Teodoro is an exceptional leader who possesses great administrative and political skills, a man gifted with a brilliant mind, youthful dynamism, uncommon honesty and integrity, and imbued with admirable humility . . . who can reform and transform the Philippines society, and who can bring lasting peace, justice and meaningful progress for our nation.”
Will Gilbert Teodoro reprise the Ramon Magsaysay political saga? Will history that was made 57 years ago, be repeated on May 10, 2010? Will Teodoro succeed where Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo failed – that is, stop corruption in government and bring peace to our land?
This is something that is truly worth the long-wait. Cross your fingers, my friend.
