Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro. —Inquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro has called the suspension order issued against him by the Office of the Ombudsman “a broader effort to derail” his candidacy in the May 12 polls and a “desperate attempt to besmirch” his name.
He and 18 other city officials were slapped with a six-month suspension order on Tuesday over their alleged diversion of P130 million in public funds that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) reimbursed to the city government in 2023.
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Teodoro, who is seeking reelection, called himself “a casualty of political persecution, plain and simple.”
“In a desperate attempt to besmirch my name, they’ve filed numerous trumped-up charges against me before the Ombudsman, COA (Commission on Audit), Comelec (Commission on Elections), Civil Service and other government agencies,” he said.
“We are confident that we have a strong defense and will prove that these allegations have no basis or merit. We will face this head-on, with full transparency and accountability. We will continue our fight for good governance, a clean and honest service and, most importantly, for every resident of Marikina who deserves better,” he added.
The Ombudsman said it found “sufficient grounds” to suspend Teodoro and the other 18 Marikina City officials, “considering there is a strong evidence showing their guilt.”
Aside from Teodoro and Vice Mayor Marion Andres, also ordered suspended effective immediately were Nerissa San Miguel (city treasurer); Erlinda Gonzales (city accountant); Jason Nepomuceno (assistant city budget officer); Noralyn Tingcungco (Sangguniang Panlungsod secretary); and incumbent Councilors Angelito Nuñez, Joseph Banzon, Donn Carlo Favis, Loreto Tolentino Jr., Serafin Bernardino, Carl Africa, Cloyd Casimiro, Marife Dayao, Levy de Guzman, Romina de Guzman, Samuel Ferriol, Hilario Punzalan and Manuel Sarmiento.
They face charges of graft, malversation, technical malversation, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
“Their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against them,” the Ombudsman said, adding that the suspension was meant “to preserve documents and evidence” under the control and custody of the city officials “and in order to avoid respondents’ commission of further malfeasance and/or misfeasance in office.”
The suspension order was based on the complaint of Sofronio Dulay in May 2024. He accused Teodoro of conspiring with councilors and city hall executives in the alleged misuse of PhilHealth funds for expenses or programs not related to health, which he pointed out was a violation of the Universal Health Care Act.
Citing Dulay, the Ombudsman noted Teodoro approved Ordinance No. 066 on Sept. 8, 2023, allowing the “unprogrammed” funds totaling P130 million to be set aside for “various budgetary items” for the city government. This was later sponsored by Andres and the councilors, it said.