Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.(PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
A complaint was filed before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office seeking an investigation into Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro over issues tied to his alleged dual citizenship.
The 16-page joint complaint-affidavit was filed by Russel Miraflor, Jerry Hondrado, Antonio Balondo, and Ernie Arimala.
The complainants asked prosecutors to conduct a preliminary investigation against Teodoro.
They accused him of allegedly violating the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 by supposedly making false statements in a passport application or using a passport obtained through such claims.
The complaint also cited alleged violations of provisions of the Revised Penal Code involving falsification and false testimony.
The complainants said they were not filing the case to harass or embarrass Teodoro, but to ensure that official documents submitted to the government contained truthful and complete declarations.
They asked the prosecutor’s office to obtain certified copies of passport records, travel records, citizenship retention or reacquisition documents, and other official records to determine whether probable cause existed.
The Department of National Defense rejected the complaint, calling it based on unverified allegations. DND Assistant Secretary Erik Dy said the burden of proof rested on the complainants and that claims of perjury required competent evidence, not speculation or a search for proof.