Gibo became arrogant, says Danding's daughter

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Liberal Party presidential bet Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino has found an ally in Lisa Cojuangco Cruz, daughter of business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr.

The younger Cojuangco joined her cousin, Kris Aquino, during a campaign sortie for Noynoy in Iloilo City. Cojuangco even sported yellow shoes as a sign of support for her cousin.

In an interview, Cojuangco repeated her mother's statement that her family will support any presidential candidate except Danding's nephew, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. She said her father felt insulted by Teodoro's decision to leave the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) headedby Danding for Lakas-Kampi CMD.

"Masamang-masama ang loob ng daddy ko. He was given all the best, better than all the children. Basta na lang umalis. Walang kinalaman si GMA (President Arroyo). Lumaki ang ulo eh. Kailangan niyang bumaba," she told ABS-CBN News.

She added though that the ongoing squabble does not affect the younger generation of Cojuangcos.

Last month, Danding's wife, Gretchen, told reporters that her husband would support any candidate except for Teodoro. (Read: Anybody but Gibo, says Danding's wife)

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

"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 Teodoro failed to inform her husband that he was leaving the NPC to join Lakas-Kampi-CMD despite receiving help from Danding for the past 9 years. "My husband had the biggest plans and belief for him, being so intelligent," 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.

Teodoro earlier said he respects his Aunt Gretchen's opinion but added that family matters should take a backseat to affairs of the state.

"Ang sa akin ay karapatan nila iyon. My comment is - matters of state are of supreme importance. Familial considerations should not enter into any consideration of the national interest," he said in an interview after a presidential forum organized by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in UP Diliman.

Source: ABS-CBN News