Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. is facing difficult questions following the uncovering of a foreign citizenship he kept for convenience. His explanation, or lack of it, has kept the controversy alive and kicking.

It all started with Teodoro’s apparent secret of having Maltese citizenship being pried open. Official records showed he was issued Malta Passport 1259234 in December 2016, valid until December 2026.

Putting the issue in a tight wrap may only mean that he committed perjury as he swore under oath in his Personal Data Sheet (PDS), a mandatory document for public officials, that he was never an immigrant nor a permanent resident of another country.

He also failed to disclose his dual citizenship, violating rules requiring disclosure of foreign nationality, including how and when this was acquired.

A bigger challenge for the defense chief is the Bureau of Immigration document that is all over social media showing that from 2017 to 2021, Teodoro undertook at least 34 international trips using a Philippine passport, even though he had not yet legally reacquired his Filipino citizenship under Republic Act 9225, the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act.

Philippine law — specifically RA 8239, the Philippine Passport Act — explicitly states that only Filipino citizens may hold and use a Philippine passport. Thus, the use of a Philippine passport during this time, without proper citizenship status, may constitute a criminal offense.

Teodoro faces more than the crucible of credibility in his position of being the gatekeeper of the nation’s security.

It was only in August 2021, a full four and a half years after he started traveling on a Philippine passport, that Teodoro formally applied for Philippine citizenship.

He submitted an Affidavit of Renunciation of Allegiance to Malta dated 30 September 2021 as part of his senatorial bid but there was no record of it being recorded by the Community Malta Agency, as required by the Maltese Citizenship Act. Without official recognition by Malta, his Filipino renunciation may exist only on paper.

Thus, when Teodoro filed his Certificate of Candidacy for Senator in October 2021, he may still have been a foreigner in violation of the Constitution.

A security agency insider claimed Teodoro bypassed the Board of Generals in appointments and promotions and has politicized key AFP positions, installing officers based on political loyalty rather than merit or service record.

Worse, he has reportedly created “parallel command structures” within the AFP to advance personal or political agendas, an act that undermines civilian supremacy and military professionalism.

Despite not being a Filipino citizen during the years 2019–2021 when he held the Maltese passport, Teodoro continued to affirm Filipino citizenship status in his Bureau of Internal Revenue tax documents.

He presented himself as a Filipino public servant, while legally still a Maltese citizen — an act that could constitute fraud and misrepresentation.

With his acts, a legal expert said Teodoro may have violated at least three major Philippine laws, RA 9225, RA 8239, and the Omnibus Election Code, aside from the constitutional prohibition against dual allegiance.

The highest civilian superior of the military serving under a cloud of controversy and deceit only serves to add to the weakening of the morale within the ranks.

The Palace said Teodoro still enjoys the full trust and confidence of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. but this is not enough as it has been stressed often enough that a public office is a public trust.