DND: Gibo Teodoro surrendered Maltese passport before filing of COC in 2022
The Department of National Defense clarified that Sec. Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. had surrendered his Maltese passport before filing his certificate of candidacy in 2022—amid reports that he is a holder of one, making his tenure illegal.
"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," DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.
Andolong said the existence of Teodoro's passport was disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Elections before the 2022 elections, as well as to the Committee on Appointments, before confirming his appointment as DND secretary.
"The motive of this rumor is clear and known to Secretary Teodoro. The timing of the article adds to this motive," it added.
This came after a media publication claimed in a report that Teodoro is a dual citizen of the Philippines and Malta. It reported that documents it had obtained showed Teodoro was issued passport No. 1259234 on Dec. 22, 2016, which has a 10-year validity. According to the report, the passport lists Teodoro’s full name (Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro Jr.), date of birth (June 14, 1964), and place of birth (Philippines).
Article IV Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution states that "Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law."
The Civil Service Commission, meanwhile, has reminded the public that under Republic Act No. 9225 or the “Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003,” natural born Filipinos who were naturalized in other countries could retain or re-acquire Philippine citizenship and may only be appointed to any public office after: (1) taking an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities prior to their assumption to office, and (2) renouncing their oath of allegiance to the country where they took the oath.
The Supreme Court, in its 2015 ruling in Arnado v. Comelec (GR 210164), disqualified a local official who, despite regaining Philippine citizenship, kept on using an American passport.
Teodoro was appointed as defense secretary by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in 2023. He served the same role from August 2007 to November 2009 during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Last May, Marcos called for the courtesy resignation of all his Cabinet members but rejected many of them later on, including Teodoro's.
