Ombudsman suspends Marikina Mayor over PhilHealth funds misuse

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Marikina City Mayor Marcelino 'Marcy' Teodoro and 18 other city government officials for six months without pay over alleged misuse of P130 million in PhilHealth funds.

Despite his suspension, Mayor Teodoro remains a candidate for Marikina's first congressional district in the May 12 midterm elections, as confirmed by Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia.

An audit report from the Commission on Audit (COA) found irregularities, stating that expenditures lacked legal basis and constituted unauthorized use of public funds.

The Mayors for Good Governance, a coalition of local government leaders advocating integrity and accountability, called for a fair and transparent investigation into the accusations against Teodoro.

Teodoro described his suspension as politically motivated and vowed to remain a candidate despite the preventive suspension order, questioning its timing just days before the campaign period began.