Comelec chief Garcia to inhibit from Marcy Teodoro case

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Thursday said he will inhibit from the en banc deliberations once Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro files an appeal against the cancellation of his candidacy in the 2025 May polls.

Teodoro earlier said he would seek the reversion of the decision but has yet to file the MR with the Comelec en banc.

"Ang inyong lingkod ay magi-inhibit sa kasong yan. Gusto ko lang sabihin ng ganito kaaga pa lang sapagkat kliyente ko dati ang dalawang naglalaban sa position dun," Garcia told reporters.

(I will inhibit from the case because the respondent and petitioner used to be my clients.)

"Minarapat ko po bilang pagrespeto sa proseso na huwag mag-participate. Therefore, 'yung anim na miyembro ng Komisyon ang magpa-participate sa disposiyon ng Komisyon," he said.

(I decided to inhibit as respect to our process. Therefore, only the six commissioners will participate.)

Earlier, the Comelec First Division canceled the certificate of candidacy of Teodoro, who is looking to run for congressman in the first district of Marikina City, for allegedly committing material misrepresentation in his certificate of candidacy in next year's elections.

The poll body said Teodoro failed to prove that he had “re-established his residence in his domicile of origin, for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the 2025 NLE”.

"By declaring in his CoC the contrary, despite knowing fully well that he did not meet the minimum residency requirement, Respondent committed material misrepresentation which this Commission (First Division) cannot countenance,” it said.

“Taking all these circumstances together, We find that the Petitioners were able to discharge their burden of proving that Respondent deliberately committed material misrepresentation in his CoC. Hence, We are constrained to grant these Petitions and order the cancellation of his CoC for the position of Member, House of Representatives," it added.

Garcia, however, clarified that Teodoro's name would remain in the ballot while the Comelec en banc is deciding on the case.

"Hanggat hindi final ang decision ng Comelec en banc, hanggat may motion for reconsideration ay hindi tatanggalin ang pangalan ng isang kandidato sa listahan. Therefore, depende yan kung kelan madedesisyunan," said Garcia.

(Until there is a final decision by the Comelec en banc and there is a motion for reconsideration, a candidate's name will still be on the list. It will depend on when will the final decision be rendered.)

Should he be disqualified after the printing of the ballots, the votes for Teodoro would be considered stray votes, according to the poll body.

The Comelec is set to start the printing of ballots for the 2025 NLE in January 2025. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News