Romualdez on Teodoro, Herbosa: 'They will bring civilian perspective to DND, DOH'
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Facebook)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez hails Malacañang's choice of tapping Gibo Teodoro and Dr. Ted Herbosa as the secretaries of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Health (DOH), respectively, saying they will bring to the table a "civilian perspective". “They are welcome additions to the President’s immediate official family. Their wealth of experience and knowledge in defense and health strengthens the Marcos Cabinet,” Romualdez said in a statement Tuesday, June 6. Romualdez said their appointments mean that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcosc Jr. "is bent on finding the best and the brightest to join him in serving our people", even as he attested that both Teodoro and Herbosa were knowledgeable in their respective fields. “I think that most importantly, they will bring a civilian perspective to the defense and health sectors,” he added. It is not uncommon for administrations past and present to appoint former military officials to the Cabinet. Marcos took a different route with his latest appointments.
Teodoro, a lawyer, is a former defense secretary and Tarlac congressman. His father, Gilberto Teodoro Sr., was Social Security System (SSS) administrator during the time of Marcos Jr.'s father, the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Teodoro finished law at the University of the Philippines (UP) and topped the 1989 bar examinations. He holds a Master’s Degree in law from Harvard University. On the other hand, Herbosa once served as health undersecretary and was a Philippine General Hospital (PGH) official for many years.