Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro on Tuesday said the preventive suspension issued against him is politically motivated and part of a broader effort to derail his candidacy in the 12 May midterm elections.
"I am a casualty of political persecution, plain and simple," Teodoro said in a statement.
"In a desperate attempt to besmirch my name, they’ve filed numerous trumped-up charges against me before the Ombudsman, COA, Comelec, Civil Service, and other government agencies. This is clearly part of a pattern of political harassment aimed at me," he added.
Teodoro questioned the timing of the suspension, calling it "very questionable, just days before the start of the official campaign period."
"It’s hard not to see this as a calculated political attack meant to damage my name and candidacy and shake the trust we’ve built with our constituents," he said.
"It is very obvious that there is someone behind this who sees our leadership as a threat," he added.
Despite the suspension, Teodoro affirmed that he remains a candidate in the upcoming elections. "I will not be intimidated."
He expressed confidence in their defense, stating they will prove that the allegations "have no basis or merit."
"We will face this head-on, with full transparency and accountability," he said.
"We will continue our fight for good governance, a clean and honest service, and, most importantly, for every resident of Marikina who deserves better," he added.
Teodoro also raised concerns about the impact of the suspension on city operations.
"It's unfortunate that City Hall will be left largely dysfunctional with the suspension of most city officials. I hope this won’t lead to any disruption in services for our residents," he said.
"I urge everybody to remain calm as we will defend not just our name and reputation, but the progress we’ve worked and fought so hard to achieve together," Teodoro added.