He didn’t say no.
Former Defense chief and 2010 presidential aspirant Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has been out of the limelight after he ran and lost the race for the presidency in 2010. Back then, he was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s anointed successor under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.
Last May 16, he was among the dignitaries, politicians, and well-wishers who visited incoming President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City. It so happened that Duterte offered him the Department of National Defense (DND) post. Teodoro had told reporters, “I was surprised. I thought we would just meet and I would offer my congratulations.”
Despite reports claiming that he had declined the offer to be part of Duterte’s Cabinet, ABS-CBN News clarified with a statement released by Teodoro that “I have not declined the offer of the President-elect to serve as Defense secretary. The importance of the position to the national interest requires no less than serious consultation especially with the President-elect before accepting such in order to ensure that a prospective Secretary is the right choice.”
The confusion may be due to the fact that over the weekend, Duterte had remarked that Teodoro had declined his invitation to sit in the incoming Cabinet. “Tumanggi talaga siya. Nakita mo pawis na pawis ang mama nung nagharap kami. Maybe ayaw talaga (He really declined it. You saw how he was sweating when we met. Maybe he really doesn’t want it),” Duterte told reporters in Davao City.
Well, maybe Teodoro was just sweating because of the heat. In any case, now we just have to wait and see if he takes the post that Duterte has offered.
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