MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. denied reports that Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has resigned as secretary of Department of National Defense.
The Chief Executive said in an interview in Navotas City that he personally spoke to Teodoro on Thursday morning to verify the rumors that went viral online recently.
“Tinawagan ko siya kaninang umagang-umaga: ‘Magre-resign ka raw?’ Sabi niya, ‘Bakit? Paalisin mo na ako?’ Sabi ko, ‘Bakit kita paalisin, wala naman tayong problema?’” Marcos said.
“Fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake news ‘yan. Ang lumalabas lang niyan itong mga desperado, nag-iimbento na lang ng istorya para gumawa lang ng gulo,” he added.
President Marcos further said there are no changes among the members of his Cabinet, and if there are, it will be the government who will announce it publicly.
“Kung may magbabago sa Gabinete, sa pamahalaan, eh kami ang mag-a-announce, hindi kung sino-sino man basta nag-post. Hindi sila ang mag-a-announce, walang alam ‘yan,” Marcos said.
He added: “Wala naman silang naibibigay, wala silang naitutulong, wala silang kontribusyon sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino kundi paninira lamang, kundi panggugulo lamang.”
“Huwag po kayo nadadala sa mga fake news na ganyang klase. ‘Wag po kayong madadala sa mga ‘yang mga pampagulo na ginagawa nila. Sa amin, hindi na namin pinapansin ‘yan dahil alam namin ang totoo,” Marcos further said.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has earlier belied the reports, saying that President Marcos’ full trust and confidence on Teodoro has never wavered.
DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong likewise denied the rumor on Teodoro’s alleged resignation as they are currently focused on enhancing the country’s capabilities to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“There is no truth to the rumor perpetrated by certain sectors online about the supposed resignation of Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.,” Andolong said.
“We call on those who purposely propagate unfounded lies to be circumspect and refrain from spreading misinformation and disinformation,” he added./PN
