MANILA, Philippines — Itinanggi ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang mga ulat na may mga heneral ng militar na naghahandang magsampa ng kasong perjury at falsification of public documents laban kay Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., at tinawag itong isang “joke.”
Pinabulaanan din ni AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad ang mga alegasyon na may umiiral na tensyon sa pagitan ng militar at ng kalihim ng Department of National Defense.
“On the claim that the majority of generals of the AFP would be filing a similar case, that is a joke that should be laughed at and not replied to,” ani Trinidad.
“Totoong joke ‘yun. No such [tension] exists. Laugh at it. It’s a good joke,” dagdag niya.
Lumabas ang naturang usapin matapos magsampa ng reklamong perjury at falsification of public documents laban kay Teodoro kaugnay ng alegasyon na nagkaroon siya ng Maltese passport.
Kasunod nito, iginiit ng mga nagreklamo na may ilang heneral umano ng AFP na nagbabalak ding magsampa ng kahalintulad na kaso dahil sa umano’y lumalalim na alitan sa pagitan ng militar at ng defense chief.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Teodoro na isinuko na niya ang kanyang Maltese citizenship noong 2021.
Samantala, kinondena ng Department of National Defense (DND) ang reklamong isinampa laban sa kalihim at sinabing nakabatay ito sa mga hindi beripikadong alegasyon.
“The complaint filed against the Secretary of National Defense appears to be built on unverified allegations, and attempts to shift the burden of proof to the State by requesting the Office of the Pasay City Prosecutor and other government agencies to establish the very facts the complainants themselves failed to prove. That is not how the justice system works,” ayon kay DND Assistant Secretary Erik Dy.
“The burden of proof rests on those who make the accusation. A complaint for perjury requires competent evidence, not speculation, assumptions, or a fishing expedition in search of proof. Until credible and verified evidence is presented, these claims remain nothing but unproven accusations,” dagdag niya. Dave Baluyot
