MANILA — Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday said that those vying for an elected post should keep on “running scared” during elections even if their political rival is facing several cases before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Pimentel gave the statement when asked how confident he was in bagging the first district congressional post of Marikina after his rival — Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro — was suspended by the Ombudsman over the alleged misallocation of P130 million funds for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. 

“No election is a breeze. Lahat ng kandidato dapat running scared or wag natin i-belittle yung ating rival sa eleksyon,” Pimentel told reporters on the sidelines of an event in the Shoe Capital of the Philippines.

“My rival in the election is very qualified and also competent, having served for 3 terms as a congressman,” he said.

Aside from the preventive suspension from the Ombudsman, Teodoro is also battling the Comelec’s move to cancel his certificate of candidacy after the poll body noted that he is not eligible to vie for the congressional race in the first district has the Marikina Mayor has been residing in the city’s second district.

The incumbent Marikina Mayor had denied allegations of wrongdoing, saying that he is just a “victim of political persecution.”

The Comelec earlier said that Teodoro’s name will remain in the ballot until the rulings on his certificate of candidacy and his complaint before the Ombudsman have been final and executory.

“Mabuti nga yan na the people of Marikina, especially sa district 1 are presented with 2 qualified and competent candidates for the position of congressman,” Pimentel said.

“That’s good for them.”

Pimentel is running under the slate of Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo — who is now vying for Marikina’s mayoralty post against Teodoro’s wife Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro.