A group of lawyers and concerned citizens filed criminal and administrative complaints against Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, accusing him of perjury, falsification of public documents, grave dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The complaint was led by Atty. Russel Miraflor, who said the filing seeks a formal investigation into alleged inconsistencies involving Teodoro’s reported Maltese passport records and citizenship declarations.
“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.
“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,” Miraflor added.
According to the complainants, documents they obtained indicate that Teodoro’s Maltese passport was allegedly valid from December 22, 2016 to December 22, 2026, and that he applied for or renewed a Philippine passport around March 17, 2017. They claimed these details show inconsistencies that warrant verification by authorities.
The group also urged the Office of the Solicitor General to evaluate whether a quo warranto petition is necessary should there be findings of ineligibility related to citizenship or qualification requirements for public office.
Miraflor stressed that the complaint is not politically motivated but a call for proper verification of official records. He added that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny, especially on issues involving citizenship and eligibility for government service.
In response, the Department of National Defense (DND) reiterated earlier statements that Teodoro had already surrendered his foreign passport prior to filing his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in 2021.
The DND also said the matter had been disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), as well as presented before the Commission on Appointments (CA) during his confirmation as defense secretary.
The complaint is now pending evaluation by the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office, which is expected to determine whether a preliminary investigation will proceed.
