00:00Mayor Marci Teodoro, Vice Mayor of Marikina City, and 13 councilors of Luzon have pledged their allegiance to Mayor Marci Teodoro, Vice Mayor of Marikina City,
00:10who is being suspended by the Ombudsman due to the weak use of PhilHealth funds.
00:16Isaiah Mirafuente returns to Centro Nang Balita.
00:21The Mayor of Marikina City, Acting Mayor Romel Acuña, has pledged his allegiance.
00:26While Ronel Acuña, Acting Vice Mayor of Marikina City, has pledged his allegiance.
00:31According to the City Councilors, they did not expect to be seated in the highest position of the city.
00:39The two of the three remaining councilors have not been suspended by the Ombudsman.
00:44Mayor Marci Teodoro, Vice Mayor of Marikina City, and 13 councilors of Luzon have been suspended.
00:51This is after the Ombudsman issued a Preventive Suspension Without Pay for six months due to the weak use of PhilHealth funds.
00:59Based on a complaint filed by the City Councilor, PhilHealth used a P130 million fund for things that have no connection to health,
01:08such as IT Equipment, Infrastructure Repairs, Donations, and General Supplies.
01:15Based on the Preventive Suspension Order issued by the Ombudsman, the evidence shows that the officials are guilty.
01:23According to the Ombudsman, the suspension will help to avoid the effect of the investigation.
01:29The complaint filed against the Marikina officials came from a resident named Sofronio Dulay.
01:36Aside from the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Marikina, Luzon Councilors have been suspended and Marikina City Hall will be closed.
01:44According to Teodoro, the suspension against him was politically motivated.
01:49Especially now that the City Councilor of 2025 is coming.
01:53In addition, this is a political persecution.
01:57Even though the suspended Vice Mayor believes that politics is the reason for the decision of the Ombudsman.
02:03Well, you know, it's a political persecution.
02:11Team Marikina City, Team Marikina City.
02:17Let's not be clean.
02:21He who has no sin should cast the first stone.
02:25No politician is clean.
02:28I must admit.
02:31It depends on his sin.
02:33As a doctor, mild, moderate, severe.
02:38But this was against the current Acting Mayor, Rommel Acuña.
02:42Honestly, there is no politics here because there is a complainant.
02:47The complainant is private, not us.
02:49So, we expect to say that.
02:54But this case is from last year.
02:57This is not a new case, this case is old.
02:59According to Comelec, the suspension of the candidature of the suspended officials is not affected.
03:04It is a waste of resources for the national television in the new Philippines.
