Teodoro: Time Not Ripe For Vice Presidential Run

Former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro admitted having earlier eyed the vice president position in next year’s elections, before deciding to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday, Oct. 18, Teodoro said his running for vice president “would have been perfect,” but the time was not ripe.

“The vice presidential role would have really been perfect… I could go around the country advocating for and asking questions about what the young feel the future should look like for them,” he said.

“But such is not to be as of this day. So, I will still continue the movement and try to work within the legislature and introduce more efficiencies into the government and try to make things easier for the private sector and for any citizen to deal with the government,” he added.

He said that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s move to file her COC for reelection “changed his plans.”

“She did not really make any commitment to (run for the presidency). Upon consultation with close advisers, friends and the public, I heeded their advice,” Teodoro, who served as defense secretary under the Arroyo administration, said.

He stated that while they were able to meet in the past, he and Duterte veered away from political talk.

Asked about why he is making a political comeback since losing to then senator Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 presidential elections, he said he talked with his family and they agreed that it would be good for him to try and “make it back in public service.”

“Perhaps, this is the best time that somebody who’s had both government and private sector experience could be helpful to the country,” Teodoro said, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a compelling reason for him to run.