Iloilo Fifth District Representative Raul “Boboy” Tupas believes that the Department of National Defense (DND) will be in “good hands” with the appointment of Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. as its new secretary.

“I respectfully and humbly add my voice to the chorus of warm welcome for the newly appointed Defense Secretary who will lead the national security team of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” he said.

Teodoro, according to the Ilonggo lawmaker, has an extensive experience in leadership and legislation and is expert in legal and administrative aspects.

“Given the looming new chapter of the Mutual Defense Treaty and overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and the United States, Secretary Teodoro, as alter ego of the President, has the unique and crucial responsibility of literally crafting that new chapter and key aspect of the emerging history of defense cooperation of the Philippines with other Asian countries,” Tupas, who also serves as chairman of the House Committee on National Defense and Security, said.

“The third crucial issue awaiting the new Secretary is the implementation of Republic Act 11939 or the Act Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernisation Initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines which has been recently signed into law,” he added.

Teodoro, a lawyer and a former lawmaker, was appointed by Marcos on Monday, June 5, to lead DND which, since last year, had been headed only by officers-in-charge (OIC). He took his oath of office on Tuesday, June 6.IMT