The defense department, meanwhile, urges the public to ‘be vigilant’ over ‘misleading claims…that divert our attention from the real challenges that beset our country’
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denied — and literally laughed off — rumors that his defense chief, Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., was stepping down from the post.
“Talaga? May lumabas na balitang ganoon na nagresign daw si [Secretary Teodoro]? Talaga naman. Unang-una, sagutin ko ‘yung tanong mo: Fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake news ‘yan,” he said in a chance interview with reporters in Navotas City on Thursday, September 12.
(Really? There are rumors that Secretary Teodoro is stepping down? Really now. First, let me answer your question: That’s fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake news.)
Marcos said that he and Teodoro laughed over the rumors during a phone conversation earlier. Recounting the conversation, Marcos said Teodoro quipped, “Why? Are you asking me to leave?”
“Sabi niya ‘wag natin papansinin. Sabi ko, pero kailangan nating sagutin at ipaliwanag sa taumbayan na itong ganitong klaseng mga tsismis, mga Marites, kinakalat lang nila ito para manggulo…. ‘Wag po kayo nadadala sa mga fake news na ganyang klase. ‘Wag po kayong madadala sa mga ‘yang mga pampagulo na ginagawa nila,” said Marcos.
(He said let’s ignore it. But I said we need to address it and explain to the public that these rumors are being spread just to sow chaos. Don’t get swayed by this kind of fake news. Let us not be swayed by the chaos they are trying to sow.)
“I have always said this, with some of these rumors that have spread around. We have the advantage. We know the truth so we will give it to you as soon as we can and as quickly as we can so that people will understand what is going on. Kung may magbabago sa Gabinete, sa pamahalaan, eh kami ang mag-a-announce. Hindi kung sino-sino man, basta nagpost. Hindi sila ang mag-a-announce, walang alam ‘yan. Sa kasalukuyan, ngayong araw na ito, walang pagbabago,” he added.
(If there are changes in the Cabinet, in government, we will be the ones to make the announcement. It will not come from whoever or whatever post on social media. They cannot make these announcements because they don’t know anything. As of today, there will be no changes [to the Cabinet].)
Teodoro took over the post in June 2023, after the ban on appointing losing election candidates lapsed. The former Tarlac representative sought a Senate seat under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s coalition in the 2022 polls.
This is Teodoro’s second stint as defense chief, after he served in the same position under the Gloria Arroyo administration.
Teodoro, according to different government sources, has a direct line to the President — access not everyone in government enjoys.
Both Malacañang and the defense department earlier denied the same rumors, with the latter calling on the public to “be vigilant against misleading claims that aim to sow discord among the Filipino people.”
“The President’s full trust and confidence on Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has never wavered. Rumors to the contrary are pathetic attempts to sow disunity in an organization united in protecting our people and defending our territory,” Presidential Communications Office chief Cesar Chavez said in a statement to media.
“Busy as they are with their mission, we should spare our fighting men of the corrosive politicking that has no place in their ranks,” he added.
The Department of National Defense (DND) has oversight of the country’s defense agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In a separate statement, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong called on “those who purposely propagate unfounded lies to be circumspect and refrain from spreading misinformation and disinformation.”
“Secretary Teodoro and the Department of National Defense are focused squarely on boosting the nation’s capabilities to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty. We urge the public to be vigilant against misleading claims that aim to sow discord among the Filipino people and divert our attention from the real challenges that beset our country,” added Andolong. – Rappler.com
