Teodoro is No. 1--FVR

Yesterday's affair saw former president Fidel V. Ramos giving Defense secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro his trademark thumb up sign. In FVR's mind, Teodoro is truly qualified to run for the presidency, but cut short of endorsing him, saying that he reserves that right until November 15, the day when political configurations are clearer.

Honestly, I share FVR's belief about Gibo. Among all the candidates, Gibo is, I think, the most intelligent, the most idealistic and the most straight-forward of all of them. What's best about him is he knows the system very, very well, and knows how to actually cure its infirmities. And he has this fire in his belly and the glitter in his eyes that tells you this person has the qualities of a great Leader.

What Teodoro however does not have is the right moral compass.

Teodoro thinks like an American. Look at how he views things. He says he will continue what Mrs. Arroyo accomplished and more.

If he opens his eyes a little bit, Teodoro would have seen how devastated the people are when Mrs. Arroyo's government fails to do its mandate of somewhat regulating markets. Teodoro is a typical technocrat who mouths vision without going to the market or the grocery first to see first-hand the problems.

Teodoro failed to see how Mrs. Arroyo's war policies have put the lives of thousands of Bangsamoro families in jeopardy. Teodoro only knows the language of war.

Teodoro does not see anything wrong with those scandals involving Mrs. Arroyo and her husband. He finds nothing wrong with the ZTE-NBN deal, nor does he sees anything immoral with the Joc-Joc Bolante fertilizer scam. And surely, Teodoro thinks that Hello Garci is as normal as any other telephone call.

Teodoro fails to get it when people always thumb Mrs. Arroyo's policies down. For him, okey if Mrs. Arroyo's government allows cartelization of services. Okey if families such as the Aboitizes go scot-free despite their ships killing scores of Filipinos. Okey if businessmen such as Danding Cojuangco controls most of the economy or people like Ricky Razon or Cesar Quiambao corner most government contracts.

For Teodoro, it is okey to allow Mrs. Arroyo to just fade away, allow her to enjoy retirement with monies amassed during her term.

Teodoro may have the brains. The defense secretary may have the right war strategems to use against his own people. And Teodoro may have the fire in his belly to do the right things.

But, what he does not have is the right appreciation of Philippine reality.