Anti-corruption group wants fair hearing for suspended Marikina mayor
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro (File photo / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The anti-corruption movement Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) is calling for a “fair and transparent” hearing on the preventive suspension issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro.
The M4GG is an organization “committed to fighting corruption and upholding transparency, innovation, and good governance.”
It consists of over 150 local chief executives, including Teodoro, who serves as one of its convenors.
In a statement on Thursday, M4GG said the hearing process would help them uncover the “full truth” concerning the allegations against Teodoro.
“Nananawagan ang Mayors for Good Governance para sa isang makatarungan at malinaw na proseso ng pagdinig ukol sa anim na buwang suspension na ipinataw ng Ombudsman kay Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro,” M4GG said in a statement.
(Mayors for Good Governance calls for a fair and transparent hearing process regarding the six-month suspension imposed by the Ombudsman on Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro.)
The organization likewise expressed “confidence that justice and truth” will prevail in the investigation.
“Bilang isang samahan na nagsusulong ng mabuting pamamahala at pagsugpo sa katiwalian sa pamahalaan, umaasa kami na magiging pataas ang imbestigasyon at mananaig ang katarungan at katotohanan sa isyung ito,” it said.
(As an organization that promotes good governance and the fight against corruption in government, we hope that the investigation will progress and that justice and truth will prevail in this issue.)
Earlier, Teodoro said the suspension order issued against him is “a broader effort to derail” his candidacy in the May 12 elections and a “desperate attempt to besmirch” his name.
He and 18 other city officials were slapped with a six-month suspension order over their alleged diversion of P130 million in public funds that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) reimbursed to the city government in 2023.
“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,” the suspended mayor said.
In the order dated March 21 but was released to the media on Tuesday, 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.”
Teodoro and others are facing charges of graft, malversation, technical malversation, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Following Teodoro’s suspension, the Department of the Interior and Local Government appointed Sangguniang Panlungsod member Rommel Acuna to assume the post of Marikina City acting mayor.
In a directive on Wednesday, DILG chief Jonvic Remulla “enjoined” Acuña to perform his duties as acting mayor to “prevent paralysis in government operations.”
