Marcy Teodoro votes still count pending Comelec final ruling

Votes for Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy Teodoro” in the city’s first district congressional race will remain valid as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has yet to rule on a petition to cancel his certificate of candidacy (CoC).

However, a Facebook post by Gising Marikina on April 30 falsely claimed that votes for Teodoro will be wasted as the election agency has already disqualified the Marikina mayor.

The text on the graphic card reads:

Kung ayaw mabobo, ‘wag si marcy ang iboto! Stray vote ang boto sa disqualified. Hindi ka nag-aaral ng isyu, tapos magrereklamo sa resulta (If you do not want to feel stupid, do not vote for Marcy. Votes for disqualified candidates will be counted as stray. You are not well aware of the issues, then you will complain about the results)?

Comelec’s First Division terminated Teodoro’s CoC last Dec. 11, citing “material misrepresentation” of his home address, but the final decision on his case is still pending at the Comelec en banc, the Comelec Office of the Clerk of Court told FactRakers on May 5.

Until the en banc issues a final ruling, all votes cast for Teodoro are valid, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a press conference on Jan. 27.

Hindi lang siya (Teodoro); iyong lahat ng kandidato na may pending motions, pending disqualification, hangga’t walang decision ang commission en banc ay kasama ang pangalan nila sa listahan… At kung walang desisyon pagdating ng araw eleksyon, lahat ng boto sa kanila ay will be considered as valid votes (Not only him (Teodoro), but all candidates with pending motions or disqualification cases will remain on the ballot until the Commission en banc issues a decision. If no ruling is released by election day, all votes cast for them will be considered valid). 

If Comelec cancels Teodoro's CoC after the elections and he wins, the candidate with the highest number of valid votes will be proclaimed the winner. Teodoro may elevate the decision before the Supreme Court if the en banc rules against him.

The Marikina mayor is currently serving a six-month preventive suspension from the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged misuse of local government funds. Teodoro claimed he was a victim of “political persecution” as he seeks to return to the House of Representatives this May against Senate Minority Leader and former ally Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Gising Marikina’s post has garnered around 38 reactions, 46 comments and 138 shares. (CC, TNP)