Teodoro: Dual citizenship report part of smear campaign

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday called a smear campaign the article questioning his alleged dual citizenship.

“Ito'y hindi lang fake news kundi smear campaign. Kasi hindi hiningi yung side ko na puwede ko namang ipaliwanag. Basta na lang nilabas. At alam nila na pupulutin ito,” Teodoro said in a radio interview.

(This is not just fake news but a smear campaign .tTey didn't ask for my side, which I could have explained. They just put it out there. And they know it will be picked up.)

To protect his source, Teodoro opted not to disclose what or who is behind the “smear campaign” against him.

“Ngayon na iniisip-isip ko siguradong napakalalim ng pagkagawa kasi itinanim sa isang pahayagan na kilala na bumabatikos sa ating mga patakaran laban sa Tsina. Tapos sigurado ituturo ito doon,” he said.

(Now that I think about it, it must have been done very deeply because it was planted in a newspaper that is known for criticizing of our policies against China. And most certainly, it will definitely point to such an issue.)

“Kung gusto kayo ng tao, kayo naman ang mangingibabaw. Hindi na kailangan siguro sirain ‘yung iba,” he added. 

(If people like you, you will prevail. There's probably no need to destroy [the reputation of] others.)

On Monday, the Department of National Defense (DND) clarified the reported Maltese passport of Teodoro had been renounced as early as 2021.

DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong made the statement 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.

“Its existence was disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration and Comelec prior to the 2022 elections, as well as to the Committee on Appointments prior to their confirmation of his appointment as Defense Secretary,” he added. — RF, GMA Integrated News