Teodoro eyes presidency while battling floods

MANILA, Philippines—Little known to many Filipinos a week ago, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has suddenly become one of the nation's most recognizable figures while leading flood disaster relief efforts.

But for the Harvard-educated lawyer who was just recently named the ruling coalition's candidate in next year's presidential elections, even he admits being the government's crisis pointman could be a politically poisoned chalice.

"You know, I have a dual role here. I also act as the shock absorber for the people's frustrations," Teodoro, 45, told Agence France-Presse in a brief phone interview following a Cabinet meeting to discuss the relief operations.

The record deluge that fell on Metro Manila and surrounding areas on Saturday has claimed the lives of at least 246 people and affected more than 2.2 million others.

The government is facing an angry public backlash, amid criticism that it did not do enough to prevent the disaster and was then completely overwhelmed in trying to help survivors.

"It has elevated his profile, but I am not sure if it's the profile he wants to have," Jaime Garchitorena, a spokesman for advocacy group YouthVote Philippines, said when asked about Teodoro's disaster relief leadership.

"It is a double-edged sword. People would either recognize you as the guy who saved them, or the guy who did not do enough to save them."

Garchitorena said Teodoro could become the lightning rod for criticism that the government was woefully unprepared for the storm.

Nevertheless, Teodoro had little to lose politically considering he polled just 0.2 percent public support in the last independent national surveys of presidential contenders taken last month.

And Teodoro has hardly slept since Saturday, when the storm triggered six-meter (20-feet) high floods that swallowed up entire districts of Manila. The swollen bags under his eyes are puffed to the size of coins.

Dressed down to rain jackets, blue jeans and rubber-soled shoes, he has even waded into the chest-deep muck.

President Gloria Arroyo's chief aide, Eduardo Ermita, insisted the young politician's stock was now rising, according to private polling data commissioned by the ruling coalition.

"You will be amazed at how fast he has improved. My confidence is enhanced that in due time, Secretary Teodoro will be faring very well as far as surveys are concerned," Ermita told reporters.

Meanwhile, two main political rivals now topping the popularity charts, Senator Manny Villar and deposed former president Joseph Estrada, are also keeping their profiles high.

The multi-millionaire legislator has been seen handing out relief goods at government-run shelters housing people who lost their homes in the deluge.

Estrada has taken the same tack, getting himself photographed with flood survivors.