Teodoro to pursue charges against Marikina election officer

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro has taken his oath of office after being proclaimed as the duly elected congressman of the city's first district.

After his proclamation at the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, Teodoro proceeded to the Marikina City Hall of Justice on Tuesday afternoon to take his oath before RTC Branch 273 Judge Romeo Dizon Tagra.

He was joined by his wife, Mayor Marjorie Ann "Maan" Teodoro, his mother, and supporters.

Teodoro emphasized that no temporary restraining order prevents the proclamation of winning candidates.

"Ngayon nga wala naman pahayag ang Supreme Court tungkol sa temporary restraining order para sa proklamasyon ko," he said in an interview.

He also confirmed plans to pursue charges against the Marikina Comelec election officer for delaying his proclamation.

"Inihahanda lang natin," Teodoro said. "Yung delay kasi unnecessary. Kung nagawa sa atin, maaaring maulit pa."

According to Teodoro, the delay caused harm not only to him but also to constituents who have been left without a congressional representative.

"Dapat lang talagang managot kung talagang mapapatunayan natin may kasalanan, kung may malisya o sadya talagang dinelay ng walang basehan," he said.

He pointed out the lack of legal basis for the three-day waiting period cited by Comelec officials.

“Dahil kanina yung hinihingi nila three-day period para mag-convene at magproklama, eh wala naman nakasulat sa anumang rule ng Comelec. Yan nga ang hinihingi namin kanina at wala silang maipakita, so may arbitrariness sa naging desisyon nila.”

Earlier in the day, Teodoro said he will file charges against the election officer and other Comelec-Marikina officials for failing to proclaim him despite a certificate of finality issued by the Comelec en banc affirming his congressional win.

"Contempt, dahil meron ng order ang Comelec en banc na final and executory kung saan inutusan na mag-convene ang board of canvassers para sa ganon makapagproklama ng nanalong kandidato noong 12 May," he said in a press briefing.

Teodoro said they would also file administrative charges against Atty. Dave Villarosa, the Marikina election officer, for allegedly violating the Comelec order.

“Saka possible violation on dereliction of duty, graft, grave abuse of discretion kung saan yung karapatan natin bilang kandidato ay nababalewala dahil lamang sa unnecessary delay of proclamation,” Teodoro said.

"Hindi lang ito usapin ng karapatan ng isang indibiduwal kundi karapatan ng mga bumoto. Nagsimula na ng panibagong termino pero hanggang ngayon wala pa sila naiproproklama," he added.

Teodoro filed an urgent request for immediate proclamation as the duly elected representative of the city’s first district.

The Comelec en banc officially declared the finality and executory status of its ruling, reinstating Teodoro’s congressional candidacy. The ruling reversed an earlier decision by the Comelec First Division and granted Teodoro’s consolidated motions for reconsideration, denying petitions filed by Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Katrina Mari Faye Marco, Angelu Estanislao, and Ma. Luisa de Guzman to cancel his certificate of candidacy.

Comelec lifted the suspension order on Teodoro’s candidacy, confirming no restraining order had been issued by the Supreme Court within the five-day window after promulgation.

The en banc, in its 38-page resolution promulgated on 25 June, ruled that petitioners failed to prove that Teodoro committed material misrepresentation regarding his residency in Barangay San Roque, 1st District.

Teodoro won the 12 May congressional race in Marikina’s first district with 75,062 votes against Pimentel.