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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Mandaue City mayor suspended for 1 year for grave misconduct

Mandaue City mayor suspended for 1 year for grave misconduct

Published Aug 21, 2024 10:43 am

CEBU CITY – Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes had an eventful day on Wednesday, August 21.

Cortes was first cleared of a criminal case early in the day then received a separate order from the Office of the Ombudsman suspending him for one year.

MAYOR CORTES.jpg

CORTES (FB)

The Ombudsman penalized Cortes for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The suspension was based on a case that was filed against Cortes for the illegal appointment of Camilo Basaca as officer- in-charge of the City Social Welfare Services in 2022.

City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan received the suspension order as Cortes was around when it was served.

Calipayan said they have been hearing rumors that a suspension order against Cortes was coming although they did not expect that it would materialize.

Cortes “felt down” after receiving the suspension order, Calipayan said.

Calipayan said Cortes appointed Basaca in good faith. He added that Cortes has nothing to be ashamed of as the issues do not involve corruption.

“There is no issue of corruption. No public funds that were touched. What the mayor did was for the benefit of the Mandauenhanons,” said Calipayan.

Vice Mayor Glen Bercede, a staunch ally of Cortes, will be the acting mayor.

Calipayan assured that delivery of basic services in the city will not be hampered by Cortes’ suspension.

Before the suspension order was served, Calipayan confirmed that the mayor first received an Ombudsman order clearing him of another case that was filed by a private individual.

Cortes and four other city councilors were charged with trespassing for allegedly illegally entering a property in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue.

The case was filed by Maria Priscilla Melendres, who claimed ownership of a land and sued Cortes and Councilors Maline Zafra, Oscar del Castillo, Jen del Mar, and Cynthia Remedio after the property was distributed to informal settlers.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas cleared Cortes and the four councilors as it was not established who has the legal right over the disputed property.

Cortes is the second prominent government official in Cebu suspended by the Ombudsman.

Cebu City Michael Rama is currently serving a six-month preventive suspension after he was sued before the Ombudsman after some City Hall workers were transferred to another assignment and were not paid with their salary for months.

Rama’s suspension started in May.

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Mandaue City Ombudsman Mayor Jonas Cortes
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