Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said on Wednesday, Dec. 11, that he is still a legitimate candidate for the First Congressional District of the city despite the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division to cancel his Certificate of Candidacy (COC), citing alleged material misinterpretation about his place of residence.
Teodoro said he will file a Motion for Reconsideration as the decision is not yet final and executory.
“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,” the mayor stressed.
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.
In its ruling, the Comelec stated that Teodoro failed to prove that he was a resident of the first district “for at least one year before the May 2025 elections.”
“Nonetheless, that Respondent deliberately and materially misrepresented the fact of his residency in the First District, is enough of a ground to cancel or deny due course his CoC,” it added.
He also pointed out that it was "political maneuvering,” as the petition to cancel his candidacy was filed last October by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who is running for the same position, among other petitioners who are said to be all residents of the city's first district.
“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 explained.
Initially, the mayor said that the local Comelec upheld his transfer of voter’s registration and application for transfer by the Election Registration Board (ERB) of the First District of the 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.
He said that he is a true native of Marikina and is no stranger to the first district, as he has served for a long time as a councilor, congressman, and currently as the mayor of the city.
“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,” Teodoro added.
Meanwhile, the mayor reaffirmed his dedication to serving Marikina, stating he would use all legal options to fight his opponent's deceitful actions.
“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 (I will continue to serve the people despite the challenges and I promise to carry on all the programs I have started for the benefit of our city),” he said.