Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro on Wednesday criticized the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision to cancel his certificate of candidacy, describing it as part of his opponent’s political maneuvering.
Teodoro issued this statement following the Comelec First Division's resolution on a petition filed by his opponents seeking the cancellation of his candidacy.
The mayor clarified that he remains a "legitimate candidate" for the first congressional district of Marikina as the decision is not yet final and executory.
“The fact that two petitions were filed against me shows that there are political underpinnings that is geared towards my removal from the electoral race. I will not allow this to happen and will exhaust all legal remedies available to me,” Teodoro said.
“I will file a motion for reconsideration, and I have five days from today within which to do so, the Resolution is not yet final and for all intents and purposes I am still a legitimate candidate for Member of the House of Representatives of the First District of Marikina,” he added.
According to the rules promulgated by the Comelec, particularly Comelec Resolution No. 11046, a motion to reconsider a resolution of a Division of the Comelec can be filed within five days from receipt thereof and the filing of the Motion for Reconsideration suspends the execution for implementation of the resolution.
Teodoro said that, initially, the local Comelec upheld his transfer of voter’s registration and application for transfer by the Election Registration Board of the First District of Marikina City.
“It is worth noting that the purpose of the residency requirement is to prevent a stranger or a newcomer who is unacquainted with the conditions and needs of a community and not identified with such community from seeking an elective office to serve the constituents of that community,” he said.
“In my case, no less than the First Division of the Comelec affirmed that I am not a stranger or newcomer in the First District of Marikina and they also acknowledged that I was born there and even served as the first representative of the 1st Congressional District of Marikina. They also found nothing wrong with my change of voter registration and residence from one district to another,” the mayor added.
Teodoro reiterated that he is a true native of Marikina and no stranger to the first district.
“Sa katunayan, ako ay naglingkod sa matagal na panahon bilang konsehal, congressman at kasalukuyang mayor ng lungsod ng Marikina,” he said.
The mayor emphasized his unwavering commitment to serving the people of Marikina, vowing to exhaust all possible legal remedies to counter all deceptive acts of his political opponent.
“Patuloy akong maglilingkod sa taumbayan sa kabila ng mga balakid at ako’y nangangako na ipagpapatuloy ang lahat ng mga programa na aking nasimulan para sa kapakanan ng Marikina," he said.