Duterte renews offer for Gibo Teodoro to head Defense department

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday once again asked former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo" Teodoro to resume the role and head the department.

Duterte said he is considering designating Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as an ambassador to an unnamed country, prompting him to scout for a new Cabinet secretary.

“I hope he does accept ‘cause if not, goodbye na,” Duterte said in a speech delivered before military officers at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.

Duterte said he asked someone to relay his offer to Teodoro and that the message might have reached him by now. He initially offered the Department of National Defense post to Teodoro in May but the latter declined.

READ: Gibo Teodoro to meet with Duterte in Davao City | Teodoro, Laurel decline offers to join Duterte Cabinet

The president said if Teodoro refuses to accept the position a second time, he will have to choose from the pool of military men present at the hall.

“Marami naman dito, mamili na lang ako. You’re all good,” Duterte said.

Duterte disclosed he also offered to help Teodoro during the last elections but the former Tarlac congressman who ran for president in 2010 did not seek public office. He said the former Defense secretary used to be his lawyer.

In September 2014, Duterte turned down Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s proposal to become her vice presidential candidate in the 2016 elections. He instead endorsed Teodoro, whom he described as an “honest man” with "capabilities beyond issue."