By all appearances, cracks are beginning to show within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the root of the unrest may lie at the very top of the civilian defense bureaucracy.
In a recent radio commentary by veteran broadcast journalist Deo Macalma, the undercurrent of dissatisfaction among the ranks of the military was laid bare. According to Macalma, there is growing restiveness in the AFP allegedly due to Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.’s inefficiency, questionable personnel decisions, and heavy-handed leadership style. While critics may be quick to dismiss this as political noise, Macalma’s observations gain traction in light of the recent local absentee voting (LAV) results: the Duterte-led opposition slate garnered overwhelming support from uniformed personnel in both the AFP and the Philippine National Police.
That alone should raise red flags for any serious policymaker.
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When the supposed non-partisan military bloc delivers a near-unanimous vote of protest—against the very administration they serve—something is fundamentally wrong.
The allegations surfacing from within the defense establishment are nothing short of troubling.
Reports of senior officers being relieved without due process, Board of Generals (BOG) recommendations being discarded or altered, and the elevation of allegedly unqualified officers with political connections reek of abuse and favoritism.
If true, these acts may constitute not just bad governance, but potential violations of Philippine law.
Under Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, several provisions appear relevant:
Section 3(e) prohibits giving unwarranted benefits through manifest partiality or evident bad faith—an accusation that could be applied to the alleged fast-tracking of promotions for allies of the Secretary.
Section 3(a) warns against persuading a superior (like the President) to sign off on decisions that run afoul of established procedures, such as bypassing BOG recommendations.
Section 3(c) raises even more serious concerns, especially with murmurs of contractors and “big-time dealers” frequenting AFP offices, implying a deeper rot that could involve procurement anomalies.
There are also violations of Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials. Public servants are expected to act with professionalism, fairness, and integrity. If name-calling, divisiveness, and power tripping are the new norms at the DND, it sends a chilling message to the rest of the bureaucracy.
Furthermore, concerns about Secretary Teodoro overstepping his role are not merely administrative. If he is indeed acting outside the bounds of his authority—usurping powers constitutionally reserved for the Commander-in-Chief or the BOG—it could even rise to the level of usurpation of authority, a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code.
It is crucial to stress that these are allegations, and due process must be observed. But ignoring the smoke signals now—especially when they are echoed by a veteran journalist like Macalma and amplified by actual voting behavior within the AFP and PNP—could lead to dangerous consequences for national stability.
The AFP is the last line of defense in any democracy. If its ranks are disillusioned, politicized, or demoralized, then the threat is not from without—but from within.
For the sake of national security, it is time Malacañang takes a hard look at the Department of National Defense, and ask: Is Secretary Gibo Teodoro still the right man for the job? Or has his leadership become a liability we can no longer afford?
Hello everyone, my name is Oman and I am a Middle Eastern man who has been fortunate enough to receive my education in the United Kingdom.
I am excited to share my political insights on the Philippines, a country that has been my home for the past thirty years.
Having grown up in the Middle East, I was initially drawn to the Philippines for its vibrant culture, warm hospitality, and breathtaking landscapes. Over the years, I have developed a deep appreciation for this beautiful nation and its people, which has fueled my desire to understand and contribute to its political landscape.
Living here for three decades has allowed me to witness firsthand the country's political evolution, from the turbulent times to the remarkable progress it has achieved. I have closely observed the challenges, triumphs, and the resilience of the Filipino people, which have shaped my unique perspective on its political affairs.
Through this blog, I hope to provide a fresh perspective on Philippine politics, drawing upon my Middle Eastern background and British education. I believe that my experiences and insights can contribute to meaningful discussions and shed light on the intricacies of the country's political landscape.
- Marcos’s Communication Crisis: The Price of Instability - June 6, 2025
- PBBM Should Accept Defense Sec. Gibo Teodoro’s Resignation - May 27, 2025
- China Struggles Against Stronger PH WPS Posture, Backed By US and Other Countries - September 2, 2024
Do you realize how none of this gets through people when they’re occupied just thinking about how to get by in the next few days of their lives? And how we have shut down that which speaks to us when the mind is spinning out of control? Get real.
Your president himself should just resign. That’s the right thing for him to do. He’s not working at all.
baby M should not resign –
he was the one who wanted to be president, well he got what he wanted, he should get his lazy ass to work
the people demand actual performance, not empty words
Well, let us cite an example for PBBM, VP Sara and Cong Pulong and compare who really delivers, with verifiable facts and not with mere opinions:
What did President Bongbong Marcos Jr. do with a P58 Billion allocated budget and what did Congressman Pulong Duterte do with his allocation of P51.8 Billion and VP and former Education Secretary Sara Duterte with her 2024 allocation of P17 Billion intended for the construction of new classrooms?
According to an article by Mr. Tony Lopez in Philstar:
“Perhaps, the biggest social reform legislation under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the condonation of some P58.125 billion in debts of 654,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
“It is one small act of state amnesia for the greatest number of Filipinos in a single blow.
“The P58-billion debts involve 1.18 million hectares of farm lands, 277 times the size of Manila.”
We already know the VP and former Education Secretary Sara’s fiscal discrepancies, blunders and mess that she left behind at DepEd and OVP so we’ll leave that out for the incoming impeachment. But the one thing that people will forever remember is when Sara Duterte tendered her resignation as DepEd secretary, the Philippines ranked at the bottom four among 64 countries according to PISA 2022 results – the Programme for International Student Assessment. Orrr… is it her meltdown during her virtual midnight press briefing at the HOR detention room of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez?
Congressman Paolo Duterte, with his clout, by virtue of being the presidential son, got a scandalous P51.829 billion allocation (P13.7 billion in 2020, P25 billion in 2021, P13 billion in 2022) in the last three years of the Rodrigo Duterte presidency. No other congressman got that same privilege. That said, allocation was intended for Davao’s flood control project.
Pero, saan napunta ang pera?! Kaya kaya na sagutin ito ni megget?!
How about Mayor Baste? Davao City’s 2023 confidential expenses is reportedly higher than those of 7 wealthiest cities combined (Quezon City, Makati, Manila, Taguig, Paranaque, Mandaue).
Are the people from megget’s beloved South demanding actual performance, not empty words? Where are the results?
Galit daw ang mga tao sa korapsyon pero bakit ayaw sa pananagutan?
yet again, more words from a northern faggot
just get your lazy ass baby m and make him do his job
just work, no words
your crying baby m should just try to build his own legacy, without struggling(and failing) to tarnish duterte’s
i heard him say he’s going to work. so work.show performance, not words.
wait, hold on… the northern faggots dont know anything other than politcking and have nothing to show other than sissy intrigues and homo blind items.
JUST GET TO WORK, YOU FAGS,
YOURE ON THE FUCKING CLOCK !
No Data has written on several occasions signifying that Gibo Teodoro is a personal leader of choice and whining about how come the people are not voting for his bet. He claims Gibo is highly-educated and a lawyer.
Well, it seems he’s probably too butthurt with this article to even apply a bit of critical thinking that he failed to realize, that, next in the line of succession, should his wish be granted that the president resigns, is the incompetent, with no proven track record of good and effective administrative achievement and allegedly corrupt, VP Sara Duterte.
(Recall: In 2023, Vice President and Education secretary Sara Duterte admitted that she could not personally review the revisions of the adjusted K to 10 curriculum due to her lack of education background. “I rely on their expertise and all the stakeholders who did the review. I felt guilty…”
Now, the VP is claiming that she is the person most qualified to address the issue on Political Dynasty.
She also claims that she knows how to lower the price of rice but will not share it.
All for show and the clueless people of her fan club lapped on it… including Pulse Asia.)
Interestingly, No Data was asked by a certain commenter on how he would rate the VP’s performance. His reply was: “I’d give her a grade of zero.”
Ironic, isn’t it?!
So as they would usually say, ‘be careful what you wish for’.
But! No Data has no skin in the game…
Just because I want BBM to resign doesn’t mean I want Sara Duterte too. Both are horrible and in performance, I’ll give them 0/100. Gibo is a smart lawyer, so he’s more fit to be a senator than being DND secretary.
In more honorable countries, the gov’t officials would resign if they fail to do their jobs, so why can’t Philippine gov’t officials do the same? It’s easy to just resign. BBM and Sara Duterte are failures as gov’t officials. They act like they’re the boss even though they’re just servants or employees. Both should resign and get out of the government.
@megget: “show performance, not words.”
If you want to know what is the difference between actual performance vs. empty words, read on:
During the Presidential election campaign in 2016, then presidential aspirant Rody Duterte bragged about how he would solve the traffic in EDSA easily.
Then two years into his administration he’s passing the blame to Congress for not giving him emergency powers to deal with the problem.
“If Congress would not budge to give (him) the emergency powers to do so, let Edsa remain as it is for the next 20 years. Let Edsa rot there.”
Fast forward to 2025, the entire EDSA rehabilitation works begins under the “lazy” Marcos 2.0 administration… even without emergency powers.
That’s the difference between a loud mouth that spews out attention-seeking noise and an actual functioning brain that delivers the result.
And despite of the Dutertes’ destabilization actions to his administration, PBBM doesn’t take it personally. Davao isn’t left behind. In fact, unfinished projects from the previous administration still continue.
Major projects in Davao to push through despite Marcos-Duterte rift
https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2024/08/2-major-projects-in-davao-to-push-through-despite-marcos-duterte-rift/
More of the big ticket Davao projects from the “lazy” PBBM:
DAVAO BUCANA BRIDGE – P3.126 billion, will be completed before the end of 2025.
DAVAO-SAMAL BRIDGE – P23-billion, expected to be completed and operational in 2027.
DAVAO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – Rehabilitation still on going.
DAVAO CITY BYPASS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT – still on going.
DAVAO CITY COASTAL ROAD (DCCR) – infra completion is set for 2026.
The DCCR includes 17 bridges, 12 have been completed, 4 bridges are still under construction.
yea well.. duterte this , duterte that
seems like baby m has duterte’s nuts on his chin 24/7
he should just work to build his own legacy
oh wait… junior’s got nothing zero nada zilch
hmm, megget turned into a maggot…a maggot-brained faggot…
megget is a man of few words. but his assertion stays the same.
no enlightenment intended, no intelligence allowed.
it is lazy and it is unsound. it meant nothing.
in other words… WALANG LAMAN!!!
tsk… tsk…
baby M wasted 3 years trying to make sense of duterte’s nuts on his chin…
its catch up time junior, now get your lazy ass to work
megget’s already been debunked and busted but he still doesn’t know it or pretend not to know it.
all he can do right now is to troll around like the rest of the rabid cheerleaders loyal to the Duterte clan aka the Dutertards, the new Yellowtards.
baby m just cancelled the dubious edsa rebuild – good job!
now make it a nationwide policy – no more repairs of perfectly good roads!
all road works should only be widening or new opening.
no more “earthquake” retrofitting of bridges to make it “up to date” to new codes- thats just total baloney
get your ass to work junior, youre on the clock!
The DDS cult should get a better performing troll and get rid of megget. At least get someone who can spit facts, not pure muck and nonsense.
heres more for junior :
– free motorcycle registration, no more smoke emission tests. this only leads to corruption
– motorcycle safety is all about energy, your flimsy helmet wont save your neck from getting snapped if youre going 80kph ; 40kph speed limit should be mandatory,
this alone will eliminate 90% of all motorcycle deaths
– no more mandatory helmets, the speed limits should be enough
– a child under the age of 5 riding passenger on a motorcycle is child endagerment and should be illegal
these will be popular measures as more than 50% og filipino households rely on motorcycles for transportation.
now stop worrying about duterte’s big cojones nutz on your chin, ang get your lazy ass to wotk! youre on the clock!
The virtual container that hold the assertions of obsolete thinking clowns like No Data and megget fail miserably to contain what it is supposed to. It fails to stand up to scrutiny and doesn’t make sense.
PBBM is working and he delivers.
The Philippines under the Marcos 2.0 administration is making the outside world take notice and for good reasons.
Parting words from the video:
“Here’s a breaking update for you.
“The Philippine Stock Exchange hit an all-time high. Foreign investors poured in a record 1.2 billion in the quarter of this year [2025] alone. That’s big money clearly seeing something here.
“And speaking of big money, the Philippines just secured a $4.9 billion investments from Space X to bring Starlink internet to the archipelago. And it’s not just Elon Musk either. Google just announced a major cloud region in Manila. Amazon is expanding its AWS operations there.
“These tech giants don’t make these moves unless they se serious potential.”
yea, i hope baby m can make sense of duterte’s nuts on his chin
how is junior’s chin holding up? it seems to be a heavy burden, having duterte’s nuts on your chin 24/7
he should just soldier on, not worry too much about digz nuts on his chin, just finally get his lazy ass to work as he has lost 3 years already just being a worry wart about the nuts all over his chin
baby M should try to stay sharp, stay strong, stay hungry, like the wolf ( canis lupus )
here something junior can do :
abolish the national building code and overhaul it.
the current NBC is based almost word for word from the AMERICAN code, and is impossible to implement totally in the third world like the philippines – where the government cant even provide proper services like roads, sidewalks, drainages, and street lighting.
fix first the public services, clear the illegal tenements and sidewalk vendors, provide proper transportation facilities – then lets talk about strict implementation of the building code and OBO
the OBO and the national biilding code is a menace, becoming a tool to deny the common people access to water and electricity.
it has to be simplified and adapted to 3rd world conditions and the locality.
focus on the important – setbacks and structural integrity and sanitary facilities and electrical .
architects should be opional.
pwd facilities should only be for institutional buildings and malls and large commercial buildings.requiring a mechanical engineer to sign off on aircons is a joke, same with electronics. the bureau of fire should focus on fire fighting for chrissakes.
the whole thing is an idiotic mess
the building code was supposed to be a means to protect the safety of life and limb.
it has now , however,in the hands of idiot bureaucrats, become a tool of oppression.
junior, here’s a job you can easily do, so what are you waiting for?
addendum: only PRIME commercial areas and PRIME residential areas and large industrial facilities should be subjected strictly to the current building code
the rest should be accorded some manner of leniency.
junior, you wanted to lead so bad, so get your lazy ass to work, youre on the clock!
“It is crucial to stress that these are allegations, and due process must be observed. But ignoring the smoke signals now—especially when they are echoed by a veteran journalist like Macalma and amplified by actual voting behavior within the AFP and PNP—could lead to dangerous consequences for national stability.”
Well, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. seem to get along well at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and both are showing no signs of something for us to worry about.
Secretary Gibo Teodoro should be commended for how he handled the questions of the two Chinese men-in-uniform in that meeting of the Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Staff of the world.
In answering the Chinese, Sec. Gibo exhibited some class and restraint:
“Thank you for the propaganda spiels disguised as questions.”
It was received with polite applause, perhaps to the discomfort of those Chinese men.
Macalma maybe a veteran journalist, but, even a non-journalist like a seasoned politician or a former president, just like him are not incapable of sowing political intrigues.
yea right. tibo geo-doro paused dramatically a real long time for applause , and only got a smattering.
that was a really rude and foolish way to address a question by someone from a country who cant even produce a decent paltik hand gun, to someone from a country WHICH HAS AN ARSENAL OF NUCLEAR BOMBS
What is the chinese nuclear bomb going to do? Destroy the land and territory they’re trying to take? Can you present a scenario where the Chinese are actually going to win a violent war within international waters?
tibo geo-doro, showboating in an international forum.
posturing as though he were on equal footing with the BIG BOY NUCLEAR CLUB, when in fact he is nothing more than a towel boy
FP Rodrigo Duterte is a mere water boy!
That’s according to the crazy logic and reasoning of a rabid DDS heckler, megget (as applied to Defense Sec. Gibo Teodoro, referring to him as a towel boy).
In a 2016 speech during the Philippines – China Trade and Investment Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, FPRRD announced his ‘separation’ from the “son of a bitch” United States.
“I’ve realigned myself in your [China] ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to (President Vladimir) Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world – China, Philippines and Russia.”
“I have separated from them. So I will be dependent on you for all time. But do not worry. We will also help as you help us.”
Let’s take a look at megget’s criteria for judgement and if they fit to both:
“showboating in an international forum”, check!
“posturing as though he were on equal footing with the BIG BOY NUCLEAR CLUB”, check!
“someone from a country who cant even produce a decent paltik hand gun”, check!
“really rude and foolish”, check! check! check! check!
(Duterte called US Pres. Obama, the Pope, the EU, sons of bitches and God, stupid.)
Yeah, somehow, they seem to…
duterte’s nuts on your chin?
baby M now looking ragged, worn… it is a hard thing, having duterte’s nuts on your chin 24/7
in the meantime, no accomplishments whatsoever
get to work, junior, YOURE ON THE CLOCK!
now the rainy season is coming in, i implore the junior guy to prioritize the flood and disaster preparedness situation, and just stop worrying about digong’s huge nuts on his chin.
forget politics, skip that silly impeach and mango proceeding in the senate, and JUST DO YOUR JOB.
cmon little Junior Guy, get your job going…time to skip the manicures and the trips to your fancy pants tailor and fag hairstylist and the private fancy ass duran duran 80’s nostalgia yacht parties.
you and your porky primo have already lost 3 years playing like Jaffar and his talking parrot ( guess which one’s the bird? )
YOUR’E ON THE CLOCK
TIK TOK TIK TOK TIK TOK
GET YOUR ASS TO WORK!!!
what has junior guy done in the past weeks?
nothing but ribbon cuttings
get your lazy ass to work!