FALSE: Defense secretary Teodoro teams up with former Senator Trillanes for 2028 nat’l elections

Sebastian Janapin

A circulating infographic on Facebook shows that Defense secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro is seeking to run again as President. The photo also lists down his running-mate, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes, and their full senatorial slate.

CLAIM

Defense secretary Teodoro and former Senator Trillanes team up as President and Vice President candidates for the upcoming 2028 Philippine elections.

RATING: FALSE

CONCLUSION

There are no confirmed decisions, statements, or interviews that say Teodoro and Trillanes will team up in the 2028 national elections.

THE FACTS

• In an interview with DZRH last September 11, Teodoro said that he is not yet ready to decide on whether to run or not for the 2028 national elections, opting to focus on his duties as defense head. “Hindi ko isasara ‘yung pintuan sa kahit na anong humarap sa akin na oportunidad na ginawad ng Diyos, ginawad ng taumbayan sa atin […] Sa ngayon hindi pa ako handang magdesisyon dahil ang dami ko pang tatapusin [bilang Defense secretary],” he said.
• Meanwhile, Trillanes also ruled out his potential return in the 2028 national elections. In an interview with DZRH last April, the former senator said he will not pursue a return to the Senate, choosing to focus on supporting other candidates for the upcoming elections.
• Teodoro is the incumbent secretary of National Defense, holding the position since 2023 and previously from 2007 to 2009. He also previously ran for President in the 2010 national elections, but lost to his cousin then-President Benigno Aquino III.
• Trillanes is a former Senator from 2007 to 2019, serving two consecutive terms. He also previously ran for Vice President in the 2016 national elections, but lost to then-Vice President and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo. He is also a prominent and vocal critic of the Duterte administration.
• The infographic saw the following as the “senatorial slate” of the “Teodoro-Trillanes” tandem, with some are members of the legal team for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial:
  • Atty. Amando Ligutan, a member of the prosecution team;
  • Lanao Del Sur representative Zia Adiong, House trial spokesperson;
  • former Senator Manny Pacquiao;
  • Akbayan Party-list representative Chel Diokno, a member of the prosecution team; 
  • incumbent Pasig City mayor Vico Sotto;
  • Batangas representative Gerville Luistro, lead prosecutor;
  • ML Party-list representative Leila De Lima, a member of the prosecution team;
  • Philippine National Police chief Nicolas Torre III;
  • former Tourism and Local Government secretary Rafael Alunan III;
  • former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza; 
  • Cabinet secretary Benhur Abalos; and
  • Atty. Claire Castro, undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office.
• The aforementioned names in the “senatorial slate” did not make any confirmed decisions regarding their intention to run in the 2028 national elections.
• The user claims that the “Teodoro-Trillanes” tandem for 2028 elections is the reason why the Defense secretary is requesting a ₱1.2-trillion budget to strengthen the Armed Force of the Philippines, but will only use it to fund their campaign.
• The post was released last September 13 and quickly gained a whopping ‘Haha’ reactions, 5.7k comments, majority from Duterte supporters, and 779 shares, as of this writing.

THE BOTTOMLINE

Teodoro, Trillanes, as well as those in the “senatorial slate,” did not make any confirmed decisions regarding their intentions to run in the upcoming 2028 Philippine national elections.