THE Office of the Ombudsman has placed Marikina City mayor Marcelino Teodoro and 18 other city officials under preventive suspension for six months in relation to the criminal and administrative complaints filed last year by one Sofronio Dulay.
The 10-page order was issued March 21, 2025 and signed by Deputy Ombudsman – Visayas Dante Vargas who was designated officer-in-charge as Ombudsman Samuel Martires is on leave for an official travel.
Other than the mayor, also covered by the suspension order were Vice Mayor Marion Andres, city treasurer Nerissa Calvez San Miguel, city accountant Erlinda Gutierrez Gonzales, assistant budget officer Jason Rodriguez Nepomuceno, Sangguniang Panlungsod secretary Noralyn R. Tingcungco, and city councilors Angelito R. Nuñez, Joseph B. Banzon, Donn Carlo B. Favis, Loreto F. Tolentino, Jr., Serafin Y. Bernardino, Carl Eli F. Africa, Cloyd S. Casimiro, Marife T. Dayao, Levy D. De Guzman, Romina Kate N. De Guzman, Samuel S. Ferriol, Hilario A. Punzalan, and Manuel E. Sarmiento.
“In accordance with Sec. 27 (1) of RA No. 6770, this Order is immediately executory. Notwithstanding any motion, appeal, or petition that may be filed by respondents seeking relief from this Order, unless otherwise ordered by this Office or any court of competent jurisdiction, the implementation of this Order shall not be interrupted within the period prescribed,” the Ombudsman said.
The complaint sought criminal indictment against the respondents for technical malversation, malversation of public funds, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019).
They were also charged with administrative offenses for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
According to the complaint, the city’s PhilHealth funds were used for non-health purposes including procurement of information technology (IT) equipment and supplies, infrastructure repair, and donations.
It cited the sum of P130 million identified as reimbursements from PhilHealth to the city government for services extended to PhilHealth members.
Based on the breakdown, P91 million went to supplies and materials, P25 million to repairs and maintenance, P8 million to IT equipment, and P6 million to donations.
The Ombudsman noted that on December 20, 2024, the Commission on Audit Fraud Audit Office (COA-FAO) issued a fraud audit report to the city government of Marikina noting that “substantial amounts… were expended on items outside the intended scope of health programs.”
“Clearly, there is no legal justification for the diversion of the SHF (Special Health Fund). The diverted expenditures were not emergencies related to health, nor transfers to another health program. Said acts fall under the crime of technical malversation,” the Ombudsman said.
