The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) raised questions over the timing of the perjury complaint filed against Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., suggesting that the move may be aligned with foreign interests.
AFP West Philippine Sea spokesperson Rear Admiral (res.) Roy Vincent Trinidad noted that the complaint stems from a previously raised issue involving Teodoro’s alleged Maltese passport, which first surfaced in July last year.
Teodoro has previously stated that he renounced his Maltese passport in 2021 prior to filing his certificate of candidacy for senator. He later lost the 2022 elections and was appointed Defense Secretary in June 2023.
Last Thursday, a group of lawyers filed a complaint before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office, seeking an investigation into alleged perjury and falsification of public documents. The petition claims Teodoro may have concealed dual citizenship and requests the submission of passports, immigration records, and other supporting documents to verify his renunciation.
Assistant Secretary Erik Dy, head of the Department of National Defense (DND) Legal and Legislative Affairs Service, said the complaint appears to rely on unverified allegations and attempts to shift the burden of proof to the State.
He said the filing asks prosecutors to establish facts that the complainants themselves have not sufficiently substantiated.
The complaint was filed a week after the Chinese foreign ministry imposed sanctions on Teodoro, citing his “irresponsible remarks” that allegedly undermined China’s interests and bilateral relations. The sanctions bar him and his immediate family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and prohibit Chinese entities from engaging in transactions or cooperation with them.
Trinidad said the coincidence in timing raises concerns.
“The timing and the target are suspect. This is an old issue, a dead issue, and they are reviving it,” he said in a radio interview, referring to the Maltese passport issue.
He also questioned whether the complainants may be acting in support of foreign interests.
“The question is: are they working for the interests of a foreign country?” Trinidad said.
Trinidad added that similar legal actions may be filed against other officials taking a strong position in defending Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea.
He warned that such actions could intensify as the country approaches the 2028 political cycle, potentially putting pressure on other government officials.
Trinidad described China’s sanctions against Teodoro as harassment, saying the Defense Secretary has been vocal in exposing alleged illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“It’s a non-issue. They did not conduct due diligence and simply revived an old report,” he said.
He added that the AFP continues to monitor developments in the West Philippine Sea, including alleged black sand mining operations, possible espionage activities, and environmental damage to coral ecosystems.
Trinidad also said authorities are tracking movements of foreign nationals and activities linked to rare earth mineral extraction, noting gaps in enforcement under the Local Government Code that may be exploited.
He said some operations are being conducted under the guise of river dredging or mining, with extracted materials allegedly transported either to mainland China or used in reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.