Anybody but Gibo, says Danding's wife

Relationship between uncle, nephew still strained

MANILA, Philippines - The wife of business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. said they are dismayed with their nephew, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr..

Gretchen Cojuangco said that her husband Danding, who is chairman emeritus of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), would support a candidate, but not Teodoro.

Teodoro was formerly a member of the NPC, but switched to the administration party where he became its standard bearer.

Mrs. Cojuangco made the statement in an interview during a visit to the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City on Saturday.

"Anybody but Gibo. Anybody," she told reporters, after being asked who her husband would support between Teodoro and their other nephew, Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

"I'm just a wife that's why ga lain ang buot ko (sumasama ang loob ko) for my husband," she said in Ilonggo.

Mrs. Cojuangco said that Danding helped Teodoro for 9 years, but he failed to thank his uncle and then suddenly left their party.

"My husband had the biggest plans and belief for him, being so intelligent," she said.

She also said that Teodoro did not ask permission from his uncle when he left NPC for Lakas.

"We felt very bad for him," she said.

She also belied reports that Teodoro and her husband are okay with each other.

"He tells everybody everything's right with him and his uncle. Sala eh (mali eh). Maybe with him, but his conscience tells him otherwise. I don't know what kind of conscience that is," she said.

When pressed on who her husband will support in the elections, she said "anyone, that means anyone."

Mrs. Cojuangco was guest speaker during the graduation of policemen who took up masters’ degrees at the university, through a scholarship program funded by Cojuangco.

Danding, meanwhile, is reportedly back in the hospital due to a heart-related health concern. Report from Mark Salanga, ABS-CBN News Bacolod