Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has taken his praise for Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. a step further, publicly floating the possibility of a future “President Gilbert Teodoro” after the defense chief’s viral confrontation with China’s position on the West Philippine Sea.
Lacson made the striking remark on Sunday, September 13, after Teodoro drew widespread attention for forcefully pushing back against a Chinese position on the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling during the Seoul Defense Dialogue in South Korea.
“Imagine a ‘President Gilbert Teodoro’ alongside global leaders,” Lacson said in a post, describing Teodoro as a brilliant mind and questioning why a country led by such a leader would remain poor and underdeveloped.
The comment immediately added a political dimension to what had initially been a diplomatic confrontation over the West Philippine Sea.
The viral moment that triggered the praise
Teodoro became the center of attention after a man handed him a note while he was participating in a panel discussion at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on September 8.
The document presented China’s position rejecting the 2016 arbitral ruling that addressed competing claims in the South China Sea.
Rather than simply setting the note aside, Teodoro read portions of it aloud and challenged the manner in which the message had been delivered.
He questioned whether it was appropriate to hand such a document to him while he was answering a question before an international audience and argued that the move showed disrespect not only toward international law but also toward South Korea, the forum’s host, and the other participants.
Teodoro then delivered the line that quickly spread across social media: “Mahiya naman kayo”—roughly, “show some shame.”
The Philippine Department of National Defense subsequently shared video of the exchange, helping turn the episode into one of the most widely discussed diplomatic moments involving a Philippine official in recent days.
Teodoro’s central argument: international law cannot be ignored
The confrontation was rooted in the long-running dispute over the South China Sea and the Philippines’ maritime rights.
At the Seoul forum, Teodoro emphasized the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to the Philippines as an archipelagic country.
The Philippine News Agency reported that Teodoro described UNCLOS as vital to the country’s territorial integrity and reiterated Manila’s determination to resist attempts to claim Philippine territory.
Yonhap News Agency likewise reported that the note handed to Teodoro reiterated Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 tribunal ruling, which rejected key elements of China’s expansive maritime claims and affirmed Philippine maritime entitlements under international law.
The 2016 arbitral award remains a major pillar of the Philippine government’s position in the West Philippine Sea, although China has consistently rejected the ruling and maintained its own claims.
China hits back
The exchange did not end in Seoul.
China later criticized Teodoro’s remarks, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning accusing the Philippines of provoking tensions and urging the defense chief to stop what Beijing described as “provocations and theatrics.”
Beijing also reiterated its longstanding rejection of the South China Sea arbitration case and disputed Manila’s interpretation of international law.
The response underscored how quickly a single exchange at an international security forum can become part of the larger diplomatic confrontation between Manila and Beijing.
The Associated Press described the incident as part of escalating tensions between the Philippines and China, noting that the two countries remain locked in a long-running dispute over competing claims in the South China Sea.
Lacson sees more than a viral moment
For Lacson, however, Teodoro’s performance was not simply about delivering a memorable response to China.
His suggestion of a “President Gilbert Teodoro” placed the defense secretary in a much broader political conversation.
Lacson highlighted Teodoro’s ability to operate on an international stage and defend the Philippines’ position on sovereignty and international law.
The senator’s remarks come as Teodoro has increasingly emerged as one of the Marcos administration’s most outspoken officials on China and the West Philippine Sea.
His public profile has also grown following repeated statements defending the Philippines’ maritime interests and calling for stronger responses to Chinese assertiveness. Teodoro recently said Manila should expect Beijing’s behavior to continue and instead focus on changing how the Philippines and its partners respond.
Why Lacson’s words matter
Lacson’s endorsement is notable because it goes beyond ordinary praise for a Cabinet official.
By invoking the image of Teodoro as president, the senator has effectively placed the defense secretary’s name into a conversation about national leadership—although the remark itself does not constitute any formal presidential campaign or declaration of candidacy.
For now, Teodoro remains focused on national defense and the Philippines’ security challenges.
But his viral exchange in Seoul has clearly elevated his visibility far beyond the defense establishment.
And as tensions in the West Philippine Sea continue, the question may no longer be simply how Manila will respond to Beijing.
It may also be whether officials like Teodoro can turn their increasingly prominent role in defending Philippine sovereignty into a broader vision for the country’s future.
For Lacson, at least, the answer appears worth imagining.
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