Sex assault cases filed vs Marikina lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted Marikina 1st district Rep. Marcelino Teodoro on charges of sexual assault and acts of lasciviousness.

The agency filed four counts of sexual assault and one count of acts of lasciviousness against Teodoro before the Marikina Regional Trial Court and Metropolitan Trial Court, respectively, based on complaints from “two female police officers who previously served as his security personnel,” according to DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez.

“The cases are now under the court’s jurisdiction and shall proceed in accordance with the Rules of Court for the conduct of trial,” Martinez said.

In their complaints filed in September last year, the female cops, then aged 25 and 28, accused Teodoro of acts of lasciviousness and sexual advances by touching the private parts of one of the complainants, according to earlier reports.

The complaint also indicated that one of the accusers saw the lawmaker, whose wife is Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro, making out with other women.

In a statement following the DOJ’s confirmation, Teodoro’s lawyer Alma Mallonga slammed the agency for its resolution on his case, which was allegedly approved by another panel of prosecutors that was different from the one that received the complaint.

Despite the alleged change, Mallonga maintained her client is “innocent” and has “accepted the opportunity of having his case heard by the court.”

“He is ready to face the entire legal process in order to surface the truth at the soonest possible time… Cong. Marcy will fight this,” Mallonga added. — Emmanuel Tupas

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