Gibo Teodoro still enjoys Marcos' trust, confidence — Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is still confident with the performance of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Malacañang said on Tuesday.

This came after it was reported that the Defense chief has a Maltese passport, a matter that was already clarified by the Department of National Defense (DND).

''The President gives the confidence to Secretary Gibo. Secretary Gibo still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing.

DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said the passport was already renounced following a media report questioning Teodoro’s alleged dual citizenship, which is prohibited for Cabinet members.

“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,” Andolong said in a separate statement.

Andolong also said the existence of the passport was disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) prior to the 2022 elections, as well as to the Committee on Appointments prior to their confirmation of his appointment as Defense Secretary. — BAP, GMA Integrated News