MANILA (PNA) — Malacañang will not ask Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. to tender his resignation from the Cabinet after he was picked as the standard bearer of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party for the 2010 presidential elections.

According to Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III, there is no reason for the Palace to ask Teodoro to resign from his post at this time.

Bello said the filing of the certificate of candidacy is far beyond and members of the Cabinet who wish to run in the coming May 2010 elections are not obliged to quit their post this early.

“Hindi naman kailangan na magbitiw, dahil ang campaign period ay mag-uumpisa pa lamang sa February 2010 at ang filing ng certificate of candidacy ay ngayon pang November. Kapag ikaw ay nag-file, automatic resign ka; pero ang mag-resign ngayon, hindi naman kailangan” (There’s no need to quit his post since the campaign period will start in February 2010 while the filing of certificate of candidacy will be in November. When you file your candidacy, you are automatically resigned from your present post; but quitting your post this early is not necessary),” Bello explained.

“Alam ko naman na hindi papayagan ng Pangulo na iyong kaniyang mga miyembro sa Gabinete ay gagamitin ang kanilang panahon at pondo ng kanilang departamento para sa pangangampaniya (President Arroyo will not tolerate her Cabinet members to use the government resources in their political ambition and campaigning),” he added.

Secretary Teodoro maintained Thursday he would resign early, but the date of his resignation would depend on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Lakas-Kampi-CMD chose Teodoro as the party’s presidential candidate for 2010 during its national executive committee meeting held Wednesday at the EDSA Shangri-La hotel in Mandaluyong City,

In an interview Thurs-day, Teodoro said he is aware of “delicadeza” but he wants to balance his responsibility as Defense chief and his plans for the 2010 elections.

“I cannot just leave my Cabinet post. But the question on when to quit my post, it is up to me and my President,” he added.

Akbayan Partylist Rep. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel urged Teodoro to resign at once after he was named as the administration party’s standard bearer to insulate the military from partisan politics.