Latest news with #Maltese
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
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
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Gibo Teodoro still enjoys Marcos' trust, confidence — Palace
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is still confident with the performance of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Malacañang said on Tuesday. This came after it was reported that the Defense chief has a Maltese passport, a matter that was already clarified by the Department of National Defense (DND). ''The President gives the confidence to Secretary Gibo. Secretary Gibo still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing. DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said the passport was already renounced 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 in a separate statement. Andolong also said the existence of the passport was disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) prior to the 2022 elections, as well as to the Committee on Appointments prior to their confirmation of his appointment as Defense Secretary. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
DND confirms Teodoro renounced Maltese passport in 2021 amid dual citizenship reports
The Department of National Defense (DND) confirmed that Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. renounced his Maltese passport in 2021, addressing recent reports questioning his alleged dual citizenship. DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said on Monday that the passport was surrendered and renounced before Teodoro filed his certificate of candidacy for the 2022 elections. '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. He added that the passport's existence was disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration, the Commission on Elections, and the Committee on Appointments before Teodoro's confirmation as Defense Secretary. The reports stated that the Maltese passport was issued to Teodoro on December 22, 2016. Andolong questioned the timing and motive of the news reports. 'The motive of this rumor is clear and known to Sec. Teodoro. The timing of the article adds to this motive,' he added.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Philippine defence chief renounced Maltese citizenship before his appointment, department says
MANILA, Philippines (AP): Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. had renounced his Maltese citizenship and disclosed it to Filipino authorities before taking office, the Defense Department said Monday. Philippine law generally disqualifies candidates for high public office who have dual citizenship, especially those with foreign citizenship acquired through naturalization, unless they renounce their foreign citizenship. Teodoro, who was appointed defense chief by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2023, is one of the most vocal critics of China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea and elsewhere in Asia. He has led efforts by the Philippines to deepen its treaty alliance with the United States and build new security ties with other countries to deter China. The Manila Times reported Teodoro had acquired a Maltese passport in 2016 with a validity of 10 years. The Defense Department said, however, Teodoro's Maltese passport "was surrendered and renounced' before he filed his certificate of candidacy for a Senate seat in 2021. Teodoro lost that senatorial bid. A Philippine congressional committee on appointments was also notified that Teodoro had renounced his Maltese passport and citizenship before it confirmed his appointment as defense secretary, the defense department said and suggested that critics were trying to undermine his image. "The motive of this rumor is clear and known to Sec. Teodoro,' the defense department said without elaborating. "The timing of the article adds to this motive.' The Department of National Defense did not provide details of Teodoro's acquisition of his passport from Malta, which belongs to the 27-nation European Union. Malta, through its so-called golden passport scheme, has allowed foreigners to become citizens through financial investment. In April, the European Court of Justice ordered Malta to close its "golden passport' program, ruling that citizenship in EU countries cannot be sold. Programs that allow wealthy people to buy citizenship were once widespread in Europe, but they've been rolled back out of concern that they facilitate transnational crime and sanctions evasion. - AP
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
Gwynedd man who died in Malta hotel balcony fall pictured as family left heartbroken
Loving tributes have been paid to a holidaymaker from Gwynedd who tragically died after falling from his hotel balcony in Malta. Police were called to a hotel in St Julian, Malta, on Friday morning, where they discovered the body of Keiran Thomas outside the premises. Despite the immediate arrival of paramedics at the scene on Triq Spinola, on the island's eastern side, the 25 year old was tragically pronounced dead at the site. The Maltese police have launched an investigation into the fatal incident, with initial findings suggesting Mr Thomas may have fallen from his hotel balcony around 4.15am. Triq Spinola, the road outside the hotel, was temporarily closed to traffic earlier on Friday morning, reports Wales Online. Mr Thomas' devastated father, Alan Hughes, spoke to the BBC expressing gratitude for the supportive messages received from the public. He also said that his son, a twin, was employed as a software engineer at the time of his death, with "a promising career ahead of him". MS Sian Gwenllian, who represents Arfon, said in a statement that the death was "truly devastating". She said: "News of the death of a 25-year-old from Gwynedd in Malta is truly devastating. The pain his family must be experiencing is unimaginable. My thoughts, and those of the people of Gwynedd, are with them in their grief." Dwyfor Meirionnydd's MP, Liz Saville Roberts, also issued a statement. She said: "Heartbreaking news. My heart goes out to the young man's family at this extremely difficult time." Investigations by Malta Police into the tragic fall at the Cavalieri Art Hotel continue.
