A group of lawyers and private citizens filed criminal and administrative complaints against Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday.
The complaints accuse the Defense Chief of perjury, falsification of public documents, grave dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The legal action was led by lawyer Russel Miraflor, who stated that the filing seeks a formal inquiry into alleged discrepancies concerning Teodoro’s reported Maltese passport records and his official declarations of citizenship.
“I have nothing against him. I just want to know the truth. Being a member of the bar… it is our obligation to the Supreme Court (SC) to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land,” Miraflor said.
Miraflor explained that the group is requesting an official investigation because they have not yet obtained certified copies of the documents in question.
“We are asking for an investigation because as of now we don’t have certified copies so that the case will have a standing basis. We cannot rely on uncertified records,” he added.
According to the complainants, unverified documents allegedly show that Teodoro held a Maltese passport valid from December 22, 2016, to December 22, 2026.
The records also suggest he applied for or renewed a Philippine passport around March 17, 2017. The group argues that these timelines present inconsistencies that require verification by proper authorities.
Additionally, the group called on the Office of the Solicitor General to assess whether a quo warranto petition is necessary to address any issues concerning Teodoro’s citizenship or his legal qualifications to hold public office.
Miraflor maintained that the filing is not politically motivated but is intended to ensure accountability and the proper verification of official public records.
In response, the Department of National Defense reiterated its previous clarifications, stating that Teodoro had already surrendered his foreign passport before filing his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in 2021.
The DND further noted that the matter had already been fully disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and was reviewed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) during Teodoro’s confirmation process.
The Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office is currently evaluating the complaints to determine if there is sufficient ground to launch a preliminary investigation.