Marikina 1st District Representative Marcelino Teodoro was indicted by the Department of Justice (DoJ) after prosecutors found probable cause to charge him with rape and committing acts of lasciviousness involving two female police officers who had served as his security personnel.

In a resolution dated 5 August, prosecutors recommended the filing of four separate informations for rape through sexual assault under Article 266-A, paragraph 2, of the Revised Penal Code, and one information for acts of lasciviousness under Article 336.

The resolution was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin P. Abugan.

The DoJ on Tuesday confirmed the cases had been filed in the Regional Trial Court of Marikina.

“The Department of Justice confirms the filing of five criminal cases against Marikina City 1st District Rep. Marcelino ‘Marcy’ R. Teodoro: four counts of sexual assault and one count of acts of lasciviousness, involving two female police officers who previously served as his security personnel,” DoJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said in a message.

The two complainants had been assigned to Teodoro’s security detail at different times. Their identities were withheld.

After reviewing the complaints and the evidence during the preliminary investigation, government prosecutors found sufficient basis to proceed with the criminal charges.

The DoJ resolution also recommended the dismissal of separate perjury complaints filed against the two complainants, citing a lack of evidence.

The department earlier said Teodoro would be afforded full due process and that the cases would be handled impartially based on the evidence and the law.

Teodoro has denied the allegations, calling them malicious and untrue and intended to damage his reputation. He also described the complaints as politically motivated.

Teodoro denies charges

The camp of Marikina 1st District Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said there was insufficient basis for the complaints filed against the lawmaker following the DoJ’s finding of probable cause to indict him on four counts of rape through sexual assault and one count of acts of lasciviousness.

In a statement, Teodoro’s legal counsel Alma Mallonga said the complaints had undergone a DoJ investigation, with hearings conducted and the proceedings concluded more than seven years ago.

Mallonga questioned why the latest resolution was prepared and signed by a state prosecutor who was not part of the DoJ panel that conducted the original investigation.

“Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that the original investigation report and recommendation of the DoJ panel to dismiss the complaints against Cong. Marcy were altered,” Mallonga said.

The resolution said questions on the credibility of the allegations and Teodoro’s defenses should be resolved during trial.

“Cong. Marcy accepts the opportunity to trial the complaint against him. Until this is heard and a decision is reached where the lies are exposed and the truth is revealed, the defamation and uncertainty will only continue,” Mallonga said.

She added that Teodoro was prepared to face the legal proceedings and maintained his innocence.