The camp of Marikina Rep. Marcy Teodoro is ready to face the charges filed against him in court and will not seek to delay the proceedings, his legal counsel said.
Atty. Alma Mallonga said Teodoro’s defense team is confident in its case and is prepared to confront the accusations through the judicial process, where evidence can be examined and witnesses can be questioned.
‘We will face it,’ Mallonga said, adding that the defense looks forward to a court process that could finally bring an end to the controversy surrounding the congressman.
Meanwhile, Marikina residents have cried foul over the continuing cases filed against Teodoro, saying the complaints have become a source of frustration among families who believe politics is being used to damage the lawmaker’s reputation.
The Samahan ng mga Angkan sa Marikina, composed of 50 clans representing around 10,000 individuals, expressed dismay over what it described as repeated attempts to bring Teodoro down through accusations it considered baseless.
‘The cases against Cong. Marcy Teodoro are bogus and without sufficient basis, and it is disheartening that they are being used to pull down someone whom we have worked with and known for a long time in Marikina,’ the group said in a statement.
They said the repeated accusations have affected communities and families who have known Teodoro through his years in public service and who believe that a single allegation should not automatically erase that history.
The residents also appealed for an end to what they described as political mudslinging, arguing that such attacks run contrary to the values they associate with Marikina.
Teodoro’s legal team questioned the process surrounding a Department of Justice resolution involving the criminal complaints against him.
Mallonga said the defense found it unusual that the resolution was not prepared or signed by the DOJ panel that conducted the preliminary investigation.
Despite these concerns, Mallonga said Teodoro’s camp does not intend to cause delays and is prepared to answer the allegations before the courts.
‘We will not be the cause of delay,’ she said, stressing that the defense intends to follow the trial schedule and challenge the accusations through the judicial process.
The Department of Justice confirmed that five criminal cases have been filed against Teodoro, consisting of four counts of sexual assault and one count of acts of lasciviousness involving two female police officers who previously served as his security personnel.