MANILA, Philippines — The legal camp of Marikina Rep. Marcy Teodoro on Tuesday challenged the filing of complaints against him, insisting that a Department of Justice (DOJ) panel had found “no sufficient basis” to pursue the cases.
In a statement, Teodoro’s lawyer, Alma Mallonga, questioned a new DOJ resolution that she said was not prepared or signed by the panel that actually conducted the investigation.
The DOJ panel was composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Noreen T. Denavadera and Assistant State Prosecutor Ruth Anne P. Zamora. According to Mallonga, the panel conducted hearings and completed its investigation more than seven months ago.
“It is therefore surprising that a resolution was issued that was not made or signed by the DOJ panel that conducted the investigation,” Mallonga said.
She claimed that the original investigation report and recommendation of the DOJ panel—which she said called for the dismissal of the complaints against Teodoro—may have been altered.
“Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that the original investigation report and recommendation of the DOJ panel to dismiss the complaints against Cong. Marcy were changed,” she said.
The questioned resolution reportedly maintained that issues involving the credibility of the accusations against Teodoro and his defenses should instead be resolved during trial before a judge.
Mallonga said Teodoro welcomed the opportunity to face the accusations in court, arguing that a full trial would provide a venue for the competing claims to be tested and for the truth to emerge.
“Cong [ressman]. Marcy accepts the opportunity to have the complaint against him tried,” she said. “Until this is heard and a decision is rendered where the lies can be exposed and the truth can finally come out, the smear campaign and uncertainty will simply continue.”
Mallonga maintained that Teodoro was innocent and prepared to go through the entire legal process to clear his name.
“Innocent si Cong. Marcy ( He is innocent),” the lawyer said.
