MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng Malakanyang na nananatiling ini-enjoy ni Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ang ”full trust at confidence’ ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa kabila ng kamakailan lamang na tsismis o alingasngas sa Maltese citizenship nito.
“Secretary Gibo still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” ang sinabi ni Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary at Palace Press Officer Claire Castro sa press briefing sa Malakanyang.
Kinumpirma ni Castro na si Pangulong Marcos ay ‘fully aware’ sa nakalipas na dual citizenship status ni Teodoro at ang usapin na ito ay matagal nang natugunan.
“Opo, alam po [ng Pangulo], kasi nasa records naman po iyan, even the Comelec pati iyong Commission on Appointments, alam po nila” ang naging tugon ni Castro nang tanungin kung aware ang Pangulo sa nasabing development.
Nauna rito, sinabi ng Department of National Defense (DND) na matagal nang isinuko ni Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ang kanyang Maltese passport bago pa siya maghain ng kanyang kandidatura noong 2022 elections.
“The alleged existing Maltese passport of Secretary Gilberto Teodoro (Jr.) was surrendered and renounced before the filing of his certificate of candidacy in 2021 for the 2022 elections,” ang sinabi ni DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong sa isang kalatas.
Ito’y matapos lumabas ang ulat na sinasabing na-isyuhan si Teodoro ng Maltese passport noong Dec. 22, 2016, balido para sa 10 taon.
“Its existence was disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration and Comelec (Commission on Elections) prior to the 2022 elections, as well as to the Committee on Appointments prior to their confirmation of his appointment as defense secretary,” ani Andolong.
“The motive of this rumor is clear and known to Secretary Teodoro. The timing of the article adds to this motive.”aniya pa rin.
Sa ilalim ng batas ng Pilipinas at Konstitusyon, ipinagbabawal ang dual citizenship sa mga public officials, lalo na iyong may hawak ng Cabinet-level positions.
Samantala, si Teodoro ay itinalaga ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. noong June 2023.
Hawak niya ang kaparehong posisyon mula August 2007 hanggang November 2009 sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. /Kris Jose
