Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro appealed to other politicians on Friday to unite and set aside politics even during the election period as the country is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teodoro made the appeal after filing his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for re-election as mayor of Marikina in the upcoming 2022 elections.
“We have a common enemy and we should not fight against each other. Our common enemy is COVID-19. Ito ‘yung kalaban natin sa eleksyon na ito, hindi ang kapwa kandidato natin (This is our enemy in the election, not our fellow candidates),” Teodoro said.
“Ang talo dito, hindi naman ‘yung kandidato, ang talo ‘yung tao eh. ‘Yung panahon na mauubos sa laban sa politika. Sa panahong ito kailangan talaga, ‘yung pagkakaisa natin at saka ‘yung pagdadamayan para makita natin ‘yung solusyon sa COVID-19 (The people are the ones who are going to lose, not the candidates. Time and effort would just be wasted in fighting about politics. In these times, we really must be united and to help one another for us to see the solution in this pandemic),” he said.
“Napakahirap isipin ngayon ang politika sa gitna ng pandemya. Kaya nitong mga nakaraang araw inasikaso ko muna ‘yung ibang bagay na sa tingin natin ay mahalaga (It's really difficult to think about politics amid the pandemic. That's why in the past few days, I put my attention on those things that should be prioritized)," he added.
Asked why he decided to file his COC at the last day of filing, Teodoro explained that he let the councilors and other candidates in his lineup to file first.
He added that the candidates he chose for his line up are the ones he thinks can be proactive in tackling the COVID-19 situation.
Meanwhile, Teodoro said that he wishes to establish some of the policies in the government in terms of the new normal.
“Paano ‘yung new normal sa pagnenegosyo, trabaho, ito ‘yung mga challenges. Paano mo i-establish ‘yung minimum public health standards in a public setting. We will be needing statutory framework for this matter. (What is going to happen in the business sector and workers during the new normal? Those are the challenges. How can you establish minimum public health standards in a public setting? We will be needing a statutory framework for this matter," the mayor said.