Comelec suspends proclamation of Marcy Teodoro, 18 others amid pending DQ cases

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued orders to suspend the proclamation of incoming Marikina 1st District Rep. Marcy Teodoro and 18 other candidates if they win their respective local polls.

The 19 candidates are facing disqualification cases filed against them before the May 12 midterm elections.

“The suspension of the proclamation shall be effective until further orders from this Commission,” the orders stated.

Teodoro is facing vote-buying allegations and supposed misrepresentation of his residence in Marikina. He was earlier slapped with a six-month preventive suspension order from the Ombudsman with other Marikina officials over alleged misallocation of P130 million PhilHealth funds.

Without the suspension, Teodoro would have been proclaimed and given a seat in the House after a dominating win in the local polls over his rival, former Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel.

Other notable candidates to which Comelec issued orders include Pasig representative aspirant Christian Sia who went viral for a lewd joke he made during a campaign and Isabela Vice Mayor bet Jeryll Respicio for his video reportedly showing how to hack the voting machines.

The other candidates who were issued orders are listed below.

Congressional:

Matt Florido

• Philip Fortuno

Mayoral, vice mayoral:

Fatima Salih

• Belshezzar Abubakar

Aquino Romato

Ricardo Yanson

Mando Taha

Gubernatorial, vice:

Ronald Rodriguez

• Gerardo Noveras and/or Christine Noveras

• Christian Noveras

Councilor:

Darwin Sia

Menandro Buenafe

• James Macasero

Dani Mando

• Isaias Noveras