"I am relinquishing today my post as national chairman and handing over the reins of the party's top leadership to the brilliant, young standard bearer selected by our national executive committee, Gilbert Teodoro" she said.

Teodoro is now the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national chairman while President Arroyo became the party's president emeritus.

In her speech during the party's national convention held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the President said she recognized the "big and arduous" task ahead for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, which is "the true (political) party of the people and the only party that held the nation's interest at heart."

"It is now time to consolidate our rank and fortify our party for the electoral battle ahead," she said.

President Arroyo also called on all Lakas-Kampi-CMD members to work hard to ensure the victory of Teodoro and his runningmate actor and former Optical Media Board chairman Eduardo "Edu" Manzano "First things first, let us have him (Teodoro) elected," the President said, to ensure that the programs of her administration to fight poverty and improve the country's economy would continue. "Its young, dynamic, and competent leaders in the persons of Teodoro and Manzano show that it is the 'party of the future' that could usher in a new generation of leaders," she said. (PIA- Pagadian City)

Last update: 24-11-2009 02:16