DND chief Teodoro still enjoys trust, confidence of Marcos – Palace
Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. (Photo from the The official Facebook page of the Philippine Department of National Defense)
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. still enjoys the complete trust and confidence of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., despite false accusations that he is a dual citizen and in possession of a Maltese passport.
Malacañang does not want to speculate on the motive behind the erroneous report claiming that Teodoro has a passport issued by Malta, a European Union member state.
“But what we can say now is that the President gives confidence to Secretary Teodoro. He still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing on Tuesday.
According to Castro, the President is aware that Teodoro renounced his Maltese citizenship years ago.
“This is in the records of the Commission on Elections and the Commission on Appointments. They know this information,” she said.
The Department of National Defense (DND) clarified on Monday a news report claiming that Teodoro is a dual citizen, as he was issued a passport by Malta on December 22, 2016.
“The alleged existing Maltese passport of Sec. Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. was surrendered and renounced prior to the filing of his certificate of candidacy in 2021 for the 2022 elections,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.
READ: DND: Teodoro gave up Malta passport in 2021
Teodoro first served as defense secretary from 2007 to 2009 during the term of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He was the second youngest person to ever hold the position after Ramon Magsaysay, who assumed the position a day after he turned 43.
He was appointed again as defense secretary by President Marcos on June 5, 2023, days before he turned 59.
Teodoro ran for senator in the 2022 national elections but lost.
Dual citizens can hold public office provided they renounce their foreign citizenship beforehand.
READ: Teodoro: Dual citizenship accusation false, a ‘smear campaign’
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