Cortes, 4 others sued before OP, Ombuds

CEBU, Philippines — Criminal and administrative complaints have been filed against Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and four city councilors before the Office of the President and the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged oppression, gross misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and violation of Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The complainant, Maria Priscilla “Happy” Melendres, has sought for the preventive suspension of Cortes and City Councilors Maline Cortes-Zafra, Cynthia Remedio, Jen del Mar, and Oscar del Castillo pending investigation.

The case stemmed from the city government’s occupying a 9.5-hectare property of Melendres at Zone Ahos in Barangay Paknaan. Melendres said she bought the property from her grandmother and she has been paying real property taxes to the city government as evident of the tax declaration under her name.

However, the city government used her property as relocation site without her consent.

“More or less naa nay mga 300 structures sa maong yuta,” said Melendres.

She said the city government even held the official launching of “Ganghaan Paknaan Transitory” on March 16, 2024 in her property.

Melendres said that Cortes and the four councilors “deliberately disregarded due process” when they illegally occupied her property and awarded the land to the residents despite a pending ejectment case.

“Despite the pendency of ejectment case against Mayor Jonas Cortes and the City of Mandaue filed by complainant, Mayor Jonas Cortes and four of his city councilors namely, Mandaue City councilors Maline Cortes Zafra, Oscar Del Castillo, Cynthia C. Remedio and Jen Del Mar together with Special Weapons and Tactics PNE personnel, city employees trespassed and intruded inside the property of complainant without any court order and without permission from complainant and worst, respondents awarded the subdivided lots which is subject of the ejectment case to some city residents,” read part of the complaint.

Melendres alleged that on March 14, 2024 at around 12 p.m., city government employees allegedly destroyed the fence of her property.

Mandaue City Assistant Assessor Atty. Julius Caesar Entice said the city has the right over the property being a timberland. He said that no private individual is allowed to claim ownership of a property that is classified as timberland.

Cortes and the other respondents refused to issue a statement on the complaint saying they have yet to receive a formal copy. — (FREEMAN)