President Rodrigo Duterte re-offers the Defense post to Gibo Teodoro.
Gilbert Gibo Teodoro was again offered the Defense chief post after President Rodrigo Duterte decided to appoint current secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, to a diplomatic position.
As he spoke on the oath-taking ceremony of new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials, Duterte said that he has already asked someone to relay the offer to Teodoro, who used to be his lawyer.
Duterte first offered Teodoro to be his defense secretary on May 22, when it was clear that he had won the presidency but Gibo said then that he would think about the offer and consult his family, but then Duterte appointed retired army general Lorenzana to the defense portfolio.
The chief executive officer has offered Lorenzana the position of an “ambassador” to an unspecified country.
Duterte suddenly discussed his plan for Lorenzana and Teodoro while telling military officers that his administration will ensure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines “will have the things the best that we can afford.”
He then said that there’s an ambassadorial post that needs to be filled in right away, and that he thought of Lorenzana for the position. Duterte did not mention any particular country, only that there is a pressing need to appoint the Philippine envoy to the head the diplomatic post there.
A Palace source said Lorenzana will be appointed ambassador to the United States. The Philippines currently has no ambassador to the US, as former ambassador Jose Cuisia, an appointee of former President Benigno Aquino III, left his post when the new administration took over.
If Teodoro would not accept the offer, Duterte said he would choose from among the military service.
“Marami naman dito, pumili lang ako. You’re all good at okay na tao (There are a lot [of qualified people] here, I’ll just choose from among you. You’re all good and okay people),” he said.
The 52-year-old Teodoro, a former congressman and presidential candidate, had served as defense chief of the Arroyo administration.