Koko, Marcy trade accusations on turning back on alliance

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Marikina Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro have traded accusations of turning their backs on their political alliance in the city.

Pimentel and Teodoro are running against each other for congressman in the first district of Marikina.

The senator, who is on his last term in the Senate, said Teodoro had invited him to run in Marikina's first district but he ended up filing his certificate of candidacy for the same post.  

"Napamahal na ang mga tao sa amin tapos may magulo, may mga magulong kausap," Pimentel said.

"Sabi ko nga, kailangan ayusin ang pulitika sa Marikina kasi delikado kung ganito eh na walang isang salita. Ang gulo ng usapan, ang gulo ng kausap," he added.

(The people have already loved us then suddenly, some people did not keep their word. I pointed out that we should fix the politics in Marikina because it is dangerous if we keep people who do not honor their words.)

Asked why he thought Teodoro changed his political plans, Pimentel said, "For some people kasi winning is everything. So siguro, ayaw niya na sa district two kaya bumalik siya sa district one," Pimentel said.

Sought for comment, Teodoro said it was Pimentel who approached his group for an alliance. He said Pimentel's wife had wanted to run for Congress.

"So, ine-expect namin nga sa second district dahil dun ang bahay nila pero sabi nila baka pwede sa first district kasi mas maganda ang chance nilang manalo doon," Teodoro said.

(We expected that they wanted to run in the second district because that's where their house is but they asked if they could run in the first because they had a better chance there.)

Teodoro said they formed a local group in Marikina in February.

"Until nitong mga three months or four months ago, they broke the alliance for no apparent valid reason. Sabi nila gusto nila mag-independent," Teodoro said.

(They said they wanted to be independent.)

Teodoro said the Pimentel camp wanted to be with his party and that of the Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo. 

"Sila yung nag break ng alliance. July pa. July of this year. So we're hoping na maayos pero wala eh hindi naman sila nakipag-usap pa. So we have no other option but to run in the district, both districts," Teodoro said.

"Kasi pinagmumuka naman kaming sinungaling niya. Sila yung sumira, sila yung umalis sa alliance eh. Hindi naman kami," he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News