Teodoro should resign now to level the playing field

Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro should resign from his Cabinet portfolio, right now, while all these political maneuverings happen in the AFP. Why? Because he stands to benefit from all these AFP re-organization should he really run either for the presidential or the vice presidential posts in 2010. (see previous posts on AFP re-organization). Or even, for that matter, a seat in the Senate.

We all know that the key towards election victory here in the Philippines is simply having the right number of Generals at your side come election time. Generals control major areas considered their "turf" and they use these as political leverages. Generals take an active part in the elections. They are the silent "king-makers" in their territories (with the exception of those provinces under the Northern Alliance. There, civilians serve as kingmakers, not the other way around). They decide who wins and who loses.

With Teodoro still at the helm of the defense department, he enjoys the privilege of being the ultimate kingmaker. He may not have the billions of Villar, nor the masa appeal of Erap, but, he sure stands to gain from all these maneuverings happening inside the AFP organization.

If things continue, we may yet find ourselves waking up one morning to find Teodoro either as president or vice-president.

If we are to assess the chances of Teodoro, he stands a better chance of winning either posts than say, Villar or Mar Roxas or even Erap.

First, he has a political machinery. Second, he has the military hierarchy to back him up. And third, Teodoro has massive resources for his disposal. He can fund a grass-roots organization from the ground up.

And in a multi-party elections such as ours in 2010, administration bets are sure to win since the possibility of a minority president is now being floated around. Teodoro or a De Castro win will be justified.

And we all know who are behind either Teodoro and Noli....they have military men inside their organizations.