Metro Manila, Philippines – The Ombudsman has preventively suspended Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro, Vice Mayor Marion Andres, and 17 others for supposed irregular use of public funds.
The complainant, Sofronio Dulay, said the city’s Philippine Health Insurance funds amounting to P130 million were used for non-health purposes such as IT equipment, infrastructure repairs, donations, and several supplies.
Below are the 17 others who were preventively suspended with Teodoro and Andres:
+ Nerissa San Miguel – city treasurer
+ Erlinda Gonzales – city accountant
+ Jason Nepomuceno – assistant city budget officer
+ Noralyn Tingcungco – city council secretary
+ Angelito Nuñez – councilor
+ Joseph Banzon – councilor
+ Donn Carlo Favis – councilor
+ Loreto Tolentino Jr. – councilor
+ Serafin Bernardino – councilor
+ Carl Eli Africa – councilor
+ Cloyd Casimiro – councilor
+ Marife Dayao – councilor
+ Levy de Guzman – councilor
+ Romina Kate de Guzman – councilor
+ Samuel Ferriol – councilor
+ Hilario Punzalan – councilor
+ Manuel Sarmiento – councilor
“The Office finds sufficient grounds to grant complainants prayer for the issuance of an Order for Preventive Suspension against respondents… considering that there is strong evidence showing their guilt,” read the Ombudsman order, released on Tuesday, March 25.
Teodoro, meanwhile, said the move is “politically motivated” as he is running for congressman of Marikina’s 1st District.
The mayor called the cases filed against him as fabricated and questioned the timing of the preventive suspension.
“Ako ay isang biktima ng [I am a victim of] political persecution,” Teodoro said in a statement.
“Ito ay malinaw na bahagi ng isang pattern of political harassment laban sa akin,” he said.
[Translation: It is clear that this is part of a pattern of political harassment against me.]
Teodoro expressed confidence that they would refute the accusations.
