Marcos: No changes among Cabinet members

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said there are no changes among members of his Cabinet, amid rumors that Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. has resigned from his post. 

Speaking to reporters in Navotas City, Marcos laughed off the information that Teodoro has quit his post, stressing that it is "fake news."

"Kung may magbabago sa Gabinete, sa pamahalaan, eh kami ang maga-announce, hindi kung sino-sino man basta nag-post. Hindi sila ang maga-announce, walang alam 'yan. Kami ang maga-announce. Sa kasalukuyan, ngayong araw na ito, walang pagbabago [sa Gabinete],” Marcos said. 

He added that some "desperate" individuals were just “inventing” stories to create disarray in the society. 

“Unang-una, sagutin ko 'yung tanong mo… Fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake news 'yan. Ang lumalabas lang niyan itong mga desperado, nag-iimbento na lang ng istorya para gumawa lang ng gulo," the President said. 

“Wala naman silang naibibigay, wala silang naitutulong, wala silang kontribusyon sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino kundi paninira lamang, kundi panggugulo lamang,” he added. 

Marcos cautioned the public not to believe in this kind of misinformation. 

"Huwag po kayo nadadala sa mga fake news na ganyang klase. 'Wag po kayong madadala sa mga 'yang mga pampagulo na ginagawa nila. Sa amin, hindi na namin pinapansin 'yan dahil alam namin ang totoo," he said. 

According to Marcos, he talked with Teodoro about the matter where he told him that he will not be removed from DND as they have no problem with each other. 

"Tinawagan ko siya kaninang umagang-umaga: 'Magre-resign ka raw?' Sabi niya, 'Bakit? Paalisin mo na ako?' Sabi ko, 'Bakit kita paalisin, wala naman tayong problema?'" Marcos said.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) earlier said reports circulating on social media about Teodoro's supposed resignation are just rumors meant to sow disunity within the agency.

In a statement, PCO Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez said Marcos' full trust and  confidence on Teodoro has never wavered.  

In a separate statement, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong likewise denied the rumor on Teodoro’s alleged resignation.

"There is no truth to the rumor perpetrated by certain sectors online about the supposed resignation of Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.," Andolong said.

"We call on those who purposely propagate unfounded lies to be circumspect and refrain from spreading misinformation and disinformation," he added.

According to Andolong, Teodoro and the DND  are focused on enhancing the country’s capabilities to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty. —KBK, GMA Integrated News