THE Commission on Appointments yesterday approved the appointments of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., 11 military officials, a member of the Judicial and Bar Council, and two foreign affairs officials.
The CA also confirmed the appointment of Erlinda Pinera Uy as a member of the Judicial and Bar Council; Charlie Pacana Manangan, Chief of Mission Class 1, as ambassador to the Republic of Iraq; Kira Azucena, as non-resident ambassador to Niue in addition to being ambassador to New Zealand; and Catherin Cruz Sy, as Foreign Service Office Class IV, and the other armed forces officers.
Before his confirmation, Teodoro was asked by Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros about his actions in relation to some concerns of the country.
“Why did the defense establishment say that external threats now outweigh internal threats?” Hontiveros said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Teodoro replied that since internal threats have “waned significantly,” they should now focus on the need to protect the country’s sovereign rights over the WPS.
“We need to be cognizant here. However, if diplomacy is not backed up by a strong spinal cord, then we will just be stymied by a greater force,” Teodoro said.
“In general, without divulging sensitive information, the mandate now that we wish the Armed Forces to concentrate on is not only to guard against the islands of the archipelago and its internal waters but to secure the peaceful and unimpeded and unobstructed exploitation, exploration of our sovereign rights over the 200 nautical mile EEZ of the Republic and in all areas of the Philippines,” he added.
Hontiveros also asked Teodoro about his thoughts that “foreign state actors” could be behind the disinformation campaign “aimed at downplaying the aggressive behavior of Chinese government vessels in the West Philippine Sea.”
She asked the defense chief if there were national security implications for Chinese-owned enterprises operating in the country, and Chinese-owned telecommunications companies having communications equipment in military camps.
Teodoro said state-owned enterprises and overt infrastructures are “not so much of a problem because we can monitor it and we have default control over it.
“It’s the activities that we cannot see, like the entry of workers who take the jobs of Filipino workers. That is alarming. That is not only unfair to our countrymen, but this is also a security risk,” he said.
He also said the defense department should be concerned with the “covert economic activities” that they do not see happening.
Teodoro defended the confidential funds being asked by civilian agencies, saying they will be used for internal anti-criminal security purposes.
“Because the best way to probably weaken a country is rather than an overt warlike function or disruption of your facilities is really to take control of your internal economy, internal processes, and the like. The different agencies need intelligence and confidential funds to monitor and prevent these from happening,” he said.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri applauded the confirmation of Teodoro, vouching for the Defense chief’s integrity and capability.
“It will be an honor for me to second the confirmation of Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as Secretary of the Department of National Defense, a position that this gentleman has honorably served in the past,” Zubiri said in plenary during the confirmation of Teodoro by the congressional Commission on Appointments.
“His impressive academic and military records, diplomacy and integrity, as well as unquestionable dedication in protecting the interests of the Filipino people, make him more than qualified once again to take over the position of Secretary of National Defense,” he added.
Teodoro’s confirmation comes amid rising tension in the West Philippine Sea, with Chinese ships’ dangerous maneuvers to block Philippine ships from carrying out resupply missions in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, drawing condemnation from senators and assurances of a higher defense budget.
“I would like to say that his appointment came at a very opportune time, not only in addressing the issues of internal security threats, but also, above all, the external threats with the heightening tensions in the West Philippine Sea,” Zubiri said.
Teodoro first served as defense secretary in 2007 and ended his stint at the department in 2009. At the time, he was the youngest to ever hold the post at age 43.
As defense chief, Teodoro led the implementation of the AFP Modernization Program and spearheaded operations to rescue kidnapped volunteers of the International Committee of the Red Cross by members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf in January 2009.
In 2010, Teodoro ran for president but lost to Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.
