Filipino Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro stated that he is open to participating in the 2028 presidential elections. This means that this tough-minded person might compete against current Vice President Sara Duterte.
Teodoro said in an interview with Bloomberg on Friday: 'If there's a chance, maybe I'll run. If not, then forget it.' Due to term limits, current President Ferdinand Marcos cannot seek a second term in 2028.
Due to his provocative actions regarding the South China Sea issue, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced sanctions against Teodoro, prohibiting him from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Teodoro is one of the main promoters of the Philippines’s strengthening of its defense alliance with the United States. During his tenure, the Philippines deployed American weapons and equipment, and implemented arrangements to expand the authority of US military forces to use Philippine military bases. These bases are located near two hot spots: Taiwan and the South China Sea.
However, early polls showed that Teodoro had little chance of winning the presidential election. Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Sara, currently leads among the potential candidates for the next presidential election, despite facing impeachment proceedings in the Senate. If she is found guilty, she could be prohibited from holding public office for life.
Theo Docho, aged 62, ran for president in 2010 but was not elected.
During the interview, Teodoro also stated that the next government in the Philippines should be cautious about Chinese investment. He recalled the experience during the administration of Rodrigo Duterte when closer relations were developed with Beijing.
"Teodoro said, 'At that time, it wasn't just cooperation, but also a yielding attitude toward China. What happened then?'"
However, he also added that not all Chinese investments are bad, especially “those that have gone through proper due diligence procedures”. But he warned that investments in critical infrastructure should be treated with caution.
This week, Teodoro met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hughes in Cebu, Philippines, and both sides agreed to accelerate the modernization of the Philippine military.
Teodoro believes that despite the challenges faced by alliances around the world during the tenure of US President Trump, the United States remains a reliable partner for the Philippines. He stated that Washington attaches great importance to the unique geographical position of the Philippines, which lies between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized that Teodoro is a representative of a small group of anti-China elements in the Philippines. His reckless actions will inevitably lead to negative consequences, harming the interests of the entire country and its people.
